The campaign will include a three-part global webinar series on AMR as the above agendas scheduled for November 18, 22 and 24 respectively
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-profit based in New Delhi, will be launching its week-long campaign on ‘Rethinking the AMR agenda’ to mark the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021 starting from November 18-24.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat today and one that has been recognised as a silent pandemic. More and more antibiotics are becoming ineffective and infectious diseases are becoming difficult to treat due to this phenomenon.
AMR accelerates due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human health, animal health, food-animal production and crop production.
In addition, environment plays a significant role wherein waste from farms, factories, community and healthcare settings can contribute to the emergence and spread of AMR through environmental routes.
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is celebrated every year this time to create awareness on the issue. The overarching slogan of WAAW continues to be Antimicrobials: Handle with Care.
This year, the theme of WAAW 2021 is ‘Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance’, which calls on One Health stakeholders, policymakers, healthcare providers and the general public to be AMR Awareness champions.
An international colour campaign has also been launched this year by the AMR tripartite organisations (World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World organisation for Animal Health) to help spread awareness about antimicrobial resistance.
The new Go Blue for AMR campaign, calls upon individuals, organisations and communities to mark the week by going blue. This can involve illuminating prominent building / landmarks/monuments in light blue, or wearing blue in WAAW events, or adjusting social media profiles to blue.
CSE has been working to push for necessary change in policy and practice to contain AMR from the animal and environmental routes. It works at the national level, engages with countries in Africa and Asia, as well as pushes for policies relevant to the global South.
The imperative is to rethink and re-invent the way we do business with our food and environment. We have to prevent pollution and the overuse of chemicals.
As part of this year’s campaign, CSE will discuss the possibilities and ways ahead in containing AMR across the following:
The campaign will include a three-part global webinar series on AMR as the above agendas scheduled for November 18, 22 and 24 respectively. In addition, it will also include online special coverage through its Down to Earth portal, social media and multimedia options.
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