Manipal: Anyone, of any age, in any nation, can become victim of infections by antimicrobial-resistant bugs. The more antibiotics you take without proper supervision and advice, the more it gets difficult for your doctor to treat your infection and the reason for this difficulty is antimicrobial resistance. Every year, antimicrobial resistance increases by 5-10 per cent in India. The deaths due to antimicrobial resistance in 2019 was alarmingly 1.27 million across the globe which is more than 2/3 rd of deaths due to Covid in December 2020.
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) campaign by World Health Organization aims to raise AMR awareness and comprehension among the general public, One Health stakeholders, and policymakers, all of whom are crucial to preventing the introduction and spread of AMR. “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together” is the theme of WAAW this year. The campaign calls all sectors to support the responsible use of antibiotics and to develop AMR prevention strategies by cooperating in a One Health framework. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal joins hands with these efforts with a series of activities to spread awareness among the community and stakeholders. The institution has a group of experts who sphere head the activities to combat antimicrobial resistance under the Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance and Education (CARE). This year the centre along with the Manipal-bioMérieux Center of Excellence in Antimicrobial resistance joins hands with Indian Medical Association, Udupi -Karavali and major cycling clubs Ride for Health and Udupi Cycling Club to host a series of awareness activities.
Our fight against Antimicrobial Resistance focuses on raising awareness among the general public, medical doctors, pharmacists, veterinary doctors, and healthcare workers. On Nov 19, a Continuing Medical Education will be conducted at IMA Bhavan for the medical practitioners in Udupi. On Nov 20 2022, a cyclathon will be conducted to spread awareness among the community. The vice chancellor, MAHE Lt Gen (Dr) M. D. Venkatesh will flag off this event at 6:45 am in front of OPD of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. A workshop for clinical pharmacists is planned during this week to educate the clinical pharmacists about the importance of the right dispensing practices of antibiotics.
Preventing antimicrobial resistance is a shared responsibility. It begins with a small step on not taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, completing the dose as per the doctor’s advice, not buying antibiotics from pharmacies without a prescription, not taking leftover antibiotics from the past, disposing of the leftover antibiotics properly, not sharing your antibiotics to others in your family. Every small effort can help us prevent antimicrobial resistance and death. Societal participation in these campaigns can create a major impact on a better tomorrow. MAHE expects everyone to join hands with us in this effort.
