Lucy Ochola

Chairperson | Global Public Health & AMS Implementation Specialist

Advancing antimicrobial stewardship through data-driven, system-integrated approaches in resource-limited settings.

Dr. Lucy A. Ochola is a Clinical Pharmacist, researcher, and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) leader with over a decade of experience advancing evidence-based strategies to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Nairobi and is a recipient of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases AMS Award.

She has led the design, implementation, and scale-up of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), infection prevention and control (IPC), and quality improvement (QI) programmes within tertiary healthcare facilities in Kenya. She spearheaded the establishment of the first hospital-based AMS programme in Machakos County, strengthening antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance, antimicrobial consumption monitoring, and diagnostic stewardship.

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Role at OHAAN

As Chairperson and Human Health Specialist, Dr. Ochola provides strategic and technical leadership in antimicrobial stewardship, IPC, and quality improvement. She supports the integration of stewardship, surveillance, and diagnostic optimisation into health systems, strengthening evidence-based decision-making and patient safety.

Her work focuses on bridging clinical care, laboratory systems, and public health to support a coordinated response to AMR through a One Health approach.

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Technical Expertise & Implementation Leadership

• Data-driven stewardship and surveillance systems
• Improved microbiology and diagnostic utilisation
• Multidisciplinary capacity building and mentorship
• Sustainable integration of AMS, IPC, and QI into healthcare systems

She is currently contributing to structured AMS strengthening models in LMIC settings, including participation in the PRIMED-AMS intervention model for tertiary care facilities.

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Programme Leadership & Global Health Engagement

• Co-Investigator and Site Lead – Monitor and Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya (MAP-AMR) project, supporting detection and control of invasive fungal infections including Candida auris
• Hospital Lead – Kenya’s first DRIVE-AMS antimicrobial stewardship training programme
• Lead facilitator – AMR, AMC, and AMU surveillance trainings under MAAP II (African Society for Laboratory Medicine)
• Co-lead – Technical Assistance for Data & Evidence Use (TADE) framework implementation in Kenya
• National trainer – AMR/HAI surveillance leadership across 17 counties under Ministry of Health Kenya and Global Fund initiatives

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Policy & Systems Strengthening

• Development and implementation of national AMS and IPC guidelines
• Strengthening AMR surveillance frameworks and data use systems
• Contribution to SMART Choice prioritisation for Kenya’s National Action Plan on AMR (2023–2027)

Her work aligns national priorities with regional and global AMR strategies, supporting coordinated and sustainable responses.

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Professional Development & Global Health Focus

She is currently advancing her expertise in global public health, patient safety, and quality improvement through ongoing professional training, strengthening her capacity to support health systems in addressing AMR through integrated and sustainable approaches.