Jhpiego

Scaling the Optimal Use of Multiple ACTs to Prevent Antimalarial Drug Resistance (STOP-AMDR)

Reducing the threat of antimalarial drug resistance through innovative approaches.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) remain the frontline treatment for malaria but their efficacy is threatened by resistance, especially in East African countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Eritrea. This threatens to undermine decades of progress.

In response to this threat, the World Health Organization has launched a multi-pronged strategy to combat resistance in Africa. At the 2025 World Health Assembly, African leaders and global partners emphasized urgent action, including diversifying ACTs through multiple first-line therapies (MFT).

Scaling the Optimal Use of Multiple ACTs to Prevent Antimalarial Drug Resistance (STOP-AMDR), a Unitaid funded project implemented by Jhpiego was launched in June 2025 to help reduce malaria morbidity and mortality by minimizing the threat and impact of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa through ACT diversification and demonstration of how to implement MFTs.

OUR APPROACHES

Partnerships for lasting solutions

In collaboration with national governments and National Malaria Programs, the private sector, local institutions, civil society and other stakeholders, STOP-AMDR will help countries understand their unique barriers to antimalarial medication resistance and devise lasting solutions that work for all children, parents, providers and the health system.

Protecting Antimalarial Efficacy Through Research and Implementation

STOP-AMDR will help protect the efficacy of existing antimalarial medication by connecting research and implementation learning with market shaping efforts, steering change through the adoption of multiple first-line therapies as a key strategy to mitigate or slow-down the spread of resistance to antimalarial medication. This includes a focus on ACT diversification and facilitating strengthened supply chain systems, supporting national policy updates, and improving access and affordability of newer ACTs.

Generating demand and increasing the adoption and use of diversified ACTs in Africa

STOP-AMDR will work with partners to ensure sustained availability of currently used and recently introduced ACTs to support scale-up of MFT strategy and contribute market data to support efforts to reduce the prices of newer ACTs.

Expanding First-Line Therapies

In addition, STOP-AMDR will influence the introduction of multiple first-line therapies in twelve additional observer countries: Angola, Eritrea, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Program Experts

Dr. Rima Shretta

Senior Principal Technical Advisor and Project Director for the STOP-AMDR project

Countries

Unitaid Awards Jhpiego a Grant to Combat Antimalarial Drug Resistance in Africa

The four-year, $26.5 million grant will help minimize the impact of antimalarial drug resistance.

Safeguarding the efficacy of antimalarials is key priority. Failure to act could result in up to 16 million additional malaria cases, 80,000 more deaths, and an annual economic cost of US$1 billion if resistance to antimalarial drugs becomes widespread.