Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a looming threat to healthcare systems worldwide, with the potential to render routine treatments ineffective and even minor infections life-threatening. Yui Kohno, a manager at the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) in Japan, leads an initiative that empowers public healthcare workers at the community level to raise AMR awareness, tackling this global challenge from the ground up.
Kohno’s journey into this impactful work began with her graduate studies in health policy at the University of Sydney, Australia. Since joining HGPI, she has been instrumental in exploring complex policy challenges across a spectrum of healthcare areas, including AMR, vaccination, and health system strengthening. Her diverse skill set enables her to bridge the gaps between research, public advocacy, and direct community engagement. Her role involves not only policy analysis but also coordinating conferences, managing public relations, and orchestrating collaborative dialogues among diverse healthcare stakeholders, all essential components of HGPI’s mission to advance public health policy.
“Effective action against AMR can stem not merely from global mandates but from the grassroots level, where local healthcare professionals play a crucial role. By empowering public healthcare professionals in local governments, we can harness their influence to raise AMR awareness within communities.” – Yui Kohno
Kohno’s collaboration with PAR Foundation will mark a significant milestone in HGPI’s efforts. This collaboration will enable HGPI to convene in-person workshops and other educational events focused on AMR for local healthcare professionals, who play a vital role in community health but are often overlooked in policy dialogues. Through this program, Kohno aims to equip these professionals with essential knowledge and tools to educate the public about AMR, fostering grassroots action and preventive awareness within communities.
In addition to building local educational initiatives, Kohno is a committed advocate for amplifying these efforts on the global stage. With a deep appreciation for the power of sociological perspectives and multi-stakeholder engagement, she envisions taking the conversation beyond top-down declarations on AMR and fostering a movement toward community-led implementation. Her insights come at a pivotal moment; following the UN’s recent high-level meeting on AMR, Kohno hopes to see governments and organisations translate international commitments into local, citizen-led actions. She believes that local healthcare professionals, equipped with the right knowledge and resources, are uniquely positioned to counter misinformation and empower communities.
“My current career goal is to facilitate collaborative discussions among diverse stakeholders to enhance policy development and dialogue. I also like to write policy papers that effectively communicate complex ideas coming from the multi-stakeholder policy dialogue in accessible language” – Yui Kohno
Looking ahead, Kohno plans to compile the project’s results and share insights through publications and HGPI’s website to engage a broader audience in understanding and addressing AMR. She sees this as an opportunity to contribute a thoughtful, multidimensional approach to health policy that incorporates perspectives from the humanities and sociology alongside science. Kohno’s commitment to the AMR cause reflects her larger career goal: fostering dialogue across disciplines and communities to create actionable health policies that resonate at every level, from local to global.
As HGPI continues to expand its AMR policy discussion awareness campaign, Kohno’s vision of community-driven education and empowerment stands as a beacon for those working to tackle one of healthcare’s most complex challenges. Through collaborative efforts with local healthcare professionals and the public, Kohno is striving to ensure that AMR education and action become truly inclusive and effective.