Antimicrobial resistance silent pandemic: Experts

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 22

A two-day international webinar to mark the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week concluded here on Saturday here. Various aspects of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare concerns were pondered over by experts during the webinar organised by Shoolini University.

Vice-Chancellor Prof PK Khosla inaugurated the webinar and dwelt upon the importance of ayurveda in curing diseases.

Prof Anuradha Sourirajan, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, welcomed the speakers and participants from Nigeria and the nation. She emphasised on the growing concern of antimicrobial resistance which has become a global health threat.

She said it was a silent pandemic which continued to threaten their ability to treat common infections.

Quality of medicine, antimicrobial resistance and its current challenges were discussed by Prof Bikash Medhi, Department of Pharmacology and Coordinator of Pharmacovigilance Centre at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

He said the major challenge faced by the national healthcare system was to provide appropriate health products and services in a reasonable, reliable and efficient manner.

Dr Puneet Dhamija from AIIMS, Rishikesh, focused on rational use of antimicrobials and the strategy to minimise their use.

A subsequent session was chaired by Prof Busayo Olayinka from Nigeria who spoke on ‘Antimicrobial Resistance: The Unending Battle.’ He threw light on risks associated with antibiotic overuse and initiatives to reduce the problem.

Prof Titilayo Oyelola Fakeye, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, dwelt upon the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents, the consequences and the way forward with reference to Nigeria.

Issues such as how to combat multi-drug resistance in our environment were pondered upon by Dr Oladoja Awofisayo from University of Uyo, Nigeria.