Gombe State has launched the ComWatch application, a digital tool designed to help residents verify the authenticity and quality of antibiotics before use as part of efforts to curb antimicrobial resistance.
Speaking during the onboarding and training for the Community Access to Effective Antibiotics initiative in Gombe, the state team lead of Jhpiego, Ibrahim Nenge, said the intervention forms part of broader measures to address the growing public health threat posed by substandard and falsified medicines.
Nenge said Jhpiego was currently implementing three major health projects in the state with support from the Global Fund, including quality improvement and sexual and reproductive health programmes.
He said the ComWatch project, funded by The Trinity Challenge, specifically targets the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance.
According to him, the app enables users to scan antibiotics and instantly verify their authenticity and safety.
“The idea is to provide a simple technological solution that allows community members to identify substandard antibiotics. Once a drug is scanned, the app will indicate whether it is safe, suspicious, or should not be used,” he said.
Nenge explained that the application is integrated with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Green Book, which contains approved drug formulations.
He said each scanned product is cross-checked against the NAFDAC database to confirm whether it meets the required standards.
“This will help ensure that only safe and effective antibiotics are used,” he added.
He noted that while the app does not provide dosage guidance, it supplies vital information such as expiry dates and drug composition, enabling users to make informed decisions.
Highlighting the broader goal of the project, Nenge said data generated through the app would support evidence-based decision-making and strengthen community participation in healthcare.
“We want community members to take ownership of their health by verifying the drugs they use. This will go a long way in reducing antimicrobial resistance, which remains a major public health challenge,” he said.
On the adoption strategy, he disclosed that stakeholders, including community and religious leaders, pharmacists, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors, and the media, would play critical roles in driving awareness and usage.
“These groups will serve as key drivers in sensitising the public. We are also working closely with the media to ensure widespread awareness of the app and its benefits,” he said.
Nenge added that the project targets all 11 local government areas of the state, with plans to reach thousands of users within the first quarter.
“We aim to have a significant number of people using the app monthly to verify antibiotics before consumption,” he stated.
The project is being implemented by Jhpiego in partnership with eHealth Africa, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies, using a One Health approach that integrates human, animal and environmental health systems.
Earlier, the outgoing Commissioner for Health in the state, Habu Dahiru, urged residents to embrace the initiative, stressing the need for collective action to curb antimicrobial resistance.
“This project will only succeed with the support and active participation of the community. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring that the drugs we consume are safe,” Dahiru said.
The ComWatch app is expected to boost public confidence in medicines and contribute to reducing drug resistance across the state.
