Sixth and final training session of the ARCH International Training Programme (ITP) funded by VLIR-UOS and DGD

The sixth training session of the International Training Programme (ITP) on “Antimicrobial Resistance Containment  in Hospital settings in West Africa” (ARCH) was funded by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UOS) and the Belgian Directorate General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD).

This training session consisted of a 1-week face-to-face advance module held in July 2026 in Cotonou, Benin. The participants were selected from among those who had completed one of the five introductory modules organised previously. A total of 22 healthcare professionals (medical doctors and laboratory technicians) from Benin participated. They were divided into 2 discipline-specific tracks (clinical track and laboratory track) and were trained in more advanced knowledge on antibiotic stewardship and antimicrobial resistance data management and analysis. Didactic approaches included theoretical sessions, discussions of clinical cases and practical exercises.

This was the final training session to be organised as part of the ITP programme funded by VLIR-UOS, as the project came to an end in August 2026.

Participants and instructors of the advanced module organized in July 2026

Presentation of the laboratory results during the plenary session with the clinicians

Practical session on the analysis of antimicrobial resistance data (laboratory track)

Feedback session on the starter module by the clinicians (clinical track)

Antibiotic stewardship

Bloodstream infection

Clinical

Sub-Saharan Africa

Surveillance bacteriology