Islamabad, Nov. 16 (TNS): National Institute of Health (NIH) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday organized an awareness walk on misuse of antibiotics and threats of anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
A large number of health professionals, students and partners participated in the walk, which was organized in connection with the World Antibiotic Awareness Week being observed from November 13 to19 with the theme of Seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional before taking antibiotics”.
Addressing the participants, speakers highlighted the importance of rational use of antibiotics and advocating to stop self-medication.
They said the walk aimed at emphasizing the adverse effects, and raise awareness on the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals. They said this issue had increased manifold globally, resulting in an ever-increasing public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance which was responsible for prolonged morbidity due to resistant infections and significant deaths in every region of the world.
NIH Acting Executive Director Dr Amjad Ali said the walk was organized in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders for the AMR.
He said the event was a part of awareness activities planned for this week to create better understanding on the AMR. He said every year in the month of November; the World Antibiotics Awareness Week 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.
