The NGU School of Pharmacy hosted a visit by delegates representing the World Health Organization (WHO); Dr. Kristina Eskender (AMR Unit, WHO Headquarters), Dr. Yara Khalaf (AMR Officer, WHO Egypt), and Dr. Heba Abou Bakr (Community Engagement Officer, WHO Egypt), and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA); Dr. Shimaa Nasr Eldeen Hassan (Manager, Rational Drug Use Unit, EDA), Dr. Shimaa Sayed Imam (Manager, Drug Utilization Unit, EDA), and Dr. Abdelrahman Amin (Manager, NOHARMe Unit, EDA), on Sunday, December 7, 2025, coordinated by A/Prof. Rania Salama.
The visit was to conduct a workshop with SOP academic leaders; Prof. Manal Maher (Dean and Acting Head of Microbiology and Immunology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacognosy Departments), Prof. Marwa Fouad (Vice-Dean for Educational and Students’ Affairs and Acting Head of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Departments), Prof. Osama Hussein (Vice-Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research and Acting Head of Clinical Pharmacy Department), and Prof. Mohamed Aboughaly (Head of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy Department), staff members; Prof. Ahmed Sherif Attia, A/Prof. Rehab Ibrahim, Dr. Shahira El-Banna (Department of Microbiology and Immunology), Prof. Rabab Hamed, A/Prof. Rania Salama (Department of Clinical Pharmacy), A/Prof. Carol Youssry (Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy), A/Prof. Reham Essam (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology), and A/Prof. Mohamed Salah (Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry), and NGU Hospital Representatives; Dr. Wael Gouda (Operational Manager), Dr. Nada El-Hawary (Infection Prevention and Control Manager), and Dr. Sara Hamdy (Senior Clinical Oncology & Inpatient Pharmacy) to complete the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Curriculum Assessment Tool for Pharmacy Education.
At the beginning, A/Prof. Reham Essam delivered an overview of the School of Pharmacy, highlighting the modular integrated academic program, Educational collaboration with UCL, facilities, major achievements, current initiatives, and future perspectives.
Kristina Eskender (AMR Unit, WHO Headquarters) presented the workshop titled “Piloting of the AMR Curriculum Assessment Tool for Pharmacy Education” outlining the tool’s objectives and its role in enhancing AMR-related education.
The assessment tool was previously received by SOP, completed by the SOP team, and reviewed with Dr. Kristina Eskender. The tool was completed collaboratively during the workshop with contributions from the NGU Hospital team.
- Delegates representing WHO and EDA were guided on a tour of SOP facilities by Prof. Mohamed Aboughaly and A/Prof. Mohamed Salah, where they expressed their appreciation for the campus infrastructure and resources.
- The visit and workshop yielded several significant outcomes:
- Providing essential clarification on multiple sections of the assessment tool and contributed valuable insights on global AMR challenges and principles of rational antimicrobial use.
- Resources and Guidelines Recommendations including the WHO AWaRe Antibiotic Book, Firstline mobile app (which offer updated infectious disease treatment guidelines, rational antimicrobial use principles, and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) guidance), WHO Competency Framework for Health Workers’ Education and Training on Antimicrobial Resistance and Health Workers’ Education and Training on Antimicrobial Resistance (to assess faculty readiness in delivering AMR-, AMU-, AMS-, and IPC-related content).
- At the end of the visit, Dr. Kristina Eskender and Dr. Yara Khalaf recorded a short video expressing their positive experience at SOP NGU.
Additionally, Dr. Kristina Eskender conducted an interview with A/Prof. Rania Salama (Coordinator) to gather feedback and recommendations on the assessment process.
