The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), a nonprofit procurement service agent and 4PL services provider, delivered its first shipments of specialized laboratory products for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance on behalf of one of our direct clients -an international organization to African countries, marking progress in regional efforts to strengthen the detection and monitoring of drug-resistant infections.
A total of 24 shipments, delivered between May and August this year, are part of an initiative led by an international health organization to expand AMR surveillance capacity across Africa.
Over the last year, PFSCM coordinated the sourcing, shipment, and delivery of these shipments comprising 80 different kinds of microbiology and biosafety products valued at more than $2 million.
Products and services, ranging from automated instruments and reagents to installation, maintenance, and staff training, were sourced from qualified suppliers in Europe and South Africa.
The time and temperature-sensitive products were shipped by air to maintain cold-chain integrity and ensure timely delivery. In total, 97% of the total items required cold chain (2°C to 8°C) and temperature-controlled conditions (15°C to 25°C).
Further, 28% of the total item range consisted of items with a short shelf life, and quick and efficient clearing was critical. PFSCM collaborated with national authorities and implementing partners to synchronize procurement, delivery schedules, waivers, and customs clearing, ensuring to maximum remaining shelf life.
PFSCM Senior Client Service Manager Simona Enache explains that the significance of these deliveries extends beyond simply delivering the products to the countries.
“Our goal is not just to deliver products, it’s to help countries strengthen health systems, conduct training, and ensure infrastructure is in place so that they can turn those products into actionable surveillance data.”
A one health perspective
AMR affects human, animal, and environmental health alike, requiring a One Health approach. Strengthening laboratory networks in Africa helps generate evidence across these verticals and reduces silos to support and advance coordinated responses.
Enache stresses that every shipment represents a tangible investment in global health security.
“By helping countries collect reliable AMR data, we’re enabling better decisions at national, regional, and global levels.”
What AMR is and why surveillance matters
Looking ahead
The shipments mark the start of a broader effort to expand AMR surveillance infrastructure across the continent. Additional deliveries and capacity-building activities are planned as more countries prioritize AMR in their health strategies.
PFSCM’s growing AMR portfolio, now exceeding 600 diagnostic and laboratory products, continues to support partners working to improve diagnostic access, enhance data quality, and advance the global One Health response to antimicrobial resistance.
