Daily Times

The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Monday organised an Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness seminar with the theme Change Can’t Wait. Our Time With Antibiotics Is Running Out.

According to the NIH, the seminar was a part of the World Antibiotic Awareness Week, facilitated by NIH and Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination. This event was attended by physicians, young doctors, paramedics, students and faculty members of Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU), which is affiliated with Holy Family Hospital.

The aim of the seminar is to increase awareness regarding the rational use of antibiotics. It was intended to promote best practices among the general public and healthcare workers to minimise wide spread use of antibiotics.

NIH Laboratory Coordinator Dr Afrinish Amir discussed global and national overview about AMR resistance and the existing misuse of antibiotics in all over the world in different forms. Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Infectious Diseases Physicians Dr Naseem Akhtar discussed the precautions to be taken by paramedical staff to prevent the risk of bacterial transmission and antibiotic resistance among patients. She added that increasing nosocomial infections within hospital setting is also an alarming situation which are very hard to treat due to anti-microbial resistance.

The session was concluded with a brief message by RMU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Umar, who highlighted the significance of creating awareness about AMR and finding a permanent solution for this problem for the benefit of future generations.

Published in Daily Times, November 20^th 2018.