Winifred Maduko

Winifred Maduko is a PhD student at the University of St. Andrews with expertise in health communication and participatory research. Her program focuses on grassroots interventions for antibiotic stewardship and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria. AMR is recognised globally as one of the top 10 public health threats, and Nigeria faces heightened risks due to widespread antibiotic misuse, self-medication, and misinformation. Motivated by the need for community-led solutions, Winifred leads the Antibiotic Stewardship program to strengthen local understanding of AMR, amplify community voices, and co-create culturally meaningful health communication tools. Her approach bridges scientific evidence with lived experiences, empowering individuals and families across generations to make informed decisions about antibiotic use and contribute to improved public health outcomes.

In the first year of the Accelerator Fund, Winifred conducted baseline surveys with more than 1,000 people across 17 LGAs in Enugu State, Nigeria, to understand local antibiotic use patterns and gaps in AMR awareness. She also held community workshops, interviews, and focus groups to capture the lived experiences of antibiotic misuse. The project directly engaged over 90 individuals through co-creation workshops and a public engagement event, with the development of public health materials and the production of a short film that reflects their cultural realities around antibiotic use. A media partnership with Afia TV further amplified the project, reaching an estimated 500,000 viewers. These outputs now serve as community-owned tools for ongoing education, dialogue, and advocacy on antimicrobial resistance.