World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) and Fight the Fakes Week are global initiatives coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Fight the Fakes Alliance, respectively. These campaigns aim to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), promote responsible antibiotic use, and highlight the dangers posed by substandard and falsified medicines (SFMeds). In November and December 2025, as part of our SFMeds and Community workstreams under the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programme, pharmacist SFMeds and Community ‘Champions’ across sub-Saharan Africa took centre stage and led targeted campaigns against SFMeds – a critical driver of AMR.