NIH holds walk to highlight threat of antibiotic resistance

Islamabad :The National Institute of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization, organised a walk to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of best antibiotic prescribing practices here on Thursday.
The walk was arrange to coincide with World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW), which is being observed from November 13-19 with the theme ‘Seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional before taking antibiotics.’ People belonging to different strata of society from both public and private sectors participated in the walk. They included NIH staff along with students of College of Medical Technology, WHO Country Office, National Veterinary Laboratory, Pakistan Agricultural Research Organization, National Agricultural Research Organization, Shifa International Hospital, as well as the DHO and Lady Health Workers of ICT.
The participants held banners, placards, brochures and posters displaying information and awareness raising messages, with slogans in Urdu and English highlighting the different themes of the WAAW.
According to a recently published report from the ‘Review on Antimicrobial Resistance,’ it is estimated that the 700,000 annual deaths currently attributable to infections by drug-resistant pathogens, if unchecked, will increase to 10 million by 2050. Pakistan is witnessing the rising AMR problem.
Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director of NIH Dr. Amjad Ali said antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become resistant to antibiotics which may happen due to lack of hygiene and sanitation, overuse of antibiotics in human, livestock and food production, and also when patients not complete full course of treatment. Due to antibiotics resistance, infections get more difficult to treat, contributing more deaths, more chronic infections, longer hospital stays and higher costs.
Dr. Amjad said everybody has a role to play: keeping your vaccination up-to-date, limiting close contacts with others when you are sick, and not sharing antibiotics with others are some of the steps that can be taken at the individual level.
The WHO, in collaboration with OIE and FAO, has developed a Global Action Plan on AMR to support development, control, distribution and appropriate use of antimicrobial medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions while promoting affordable access to existing and new antimicrobials, advocacy and raising awareness on AMR. Pakistan, as part of the global commitment, has also developed its National Action Plan on AMR through a comprehensive consultative process involving the relevant sectors.
The walk began at NIH gate and ended at the entrance gate leading towards Park Road. At the end, speakers from both health and veterinary sectors addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of rational use of antibiotics and advocating to stop self-medication. Every year in November, WAAW presents an opportunity to educate the public, health professionals, and policymakers on the dangers of antibiotic resistance and ways to combat it at local, national and global levels. It is an opportunity to advocate for the proper use of antibiotics and raise awareness of antibiotics as a precious resource that must only be taken with a doctor’s prescription. The aim is to help reduce the improper consumption of antibiotics, keep antibiotics effective as long as possible so that those in need can get the best possible treatment, while reducing the threat of antimicrobial resistance.