World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) was held Shija Academy of Health Sciences in Imphal.
The Department of Microbiology organised a CME on the topic ‘Combating the Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance: One Health Approach’ at its premises.
The Shija Academy of Health Sciences stated in a release that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the condition where microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) no longer respond to antibiotics/antimicrobials treatment.
As a consequence, infections become difficult or impossible to treat. Moreover, this resistance can spread from one organism to another especially among the bacteria wherever they meet whether inside the body or in the environment, it stated.
The WHO recognised the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance and endorsed a global action plan at the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015, it stated.
The key objective of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training, it added.
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed from November 18 to 24 as a global campaign annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing further emergence and spread of AMR.
This year, the theme of WAAW is “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”, it said, adding that AMR is a threat to humans, animals, plants and the environment. It affects us all and this is why this year’s theme calls for collaboration across sectors to preserve the efficacy of these critical medicines. Fighting AMR is a truly global endeavour and must be addressed through one health approach, it added.
