By Hamu Madzedze
Online Journalist-Zimbabwe.
India has taken a lead in educating teachers on the issue antimicrobial resistance so that they can impart the knowledge to their students and communities.
This was revealed by Dr Sangeeta Sharma who is a Professor and Head of Neuropsychopharmacology Department Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences and President of Delhi Society for Promotion of Ration Use of Drugs in India during a Zoom Meeting hosted by CNS founder , Managing Editor and Chair of the Global Media AMR Alliance (GAMA)Shobha Shuklar.
Dr Sharma said they took the decision to educate teachers on AMR because teachers reach out to a wider audience which include students ,their families and friends.
"We started the online public education program two years ago ,we enroll teachers for 3 months and educate them on the different issues surrounding AMR" she said.
Dr Sharma added that the program is yielding positive results considering the feedback they are getting and the attraction it has brought about.
She also highlighted the need to educate communities on the negative impact of misusing antibiotics given that 80% of the antibiotics are being used in community settings as compared to hospital settings.
"There is a need for educational awareness to the general public so that they can understand that antibiotics are prescribed for specific health conditions and this knowledge can help prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance"she added.
Dr Sangeeta Sharma in the photo
Dr Sharma noted that some patients are self medicating with antibiotics,even for conditions that don't require antibiotic treatment ,which can lead to AMR.
She highlighted that preserving antibiotics for future generations is crucial given the pharmaceutical industry is no longer finding it attractive to develop new antibiotics.
"The new pipeline for antibiotics is running dry therefore it is of importance to safeguard the antibiotics that are available for future generations"said Dr Sharma.
AMR is a problem caused by misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines including antibiotics and antivirals and results in critical medicines losing their effectiveness in treating infections
Campaign Slogan:Antimicrobial resistance is invisible .l am not
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