AMR in India
For a long time, I thought that all diseases could be cured through medical treatments. I was convinced that hospitals have a solution for just about any medical condition.
However, all this changed when I attended a workshop hosted by Superheroes Against Superbugs (SaS) at CCMB, Hyderabad, India.
At the workshop, I learnt that while not all diseases have treatments, the ones that can be treated are becoming incurable due to a natural phenomenon called Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Antimicrobials like antibiotics are one of the most effective and inexpensive treatments for bacterial diseases. But they are losing their power due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in disease-causing bacteria. Due to human actions, these antibiotic resistant infections are rising and spreading rapidly and becoming a huge cause of concern not just in India but globally.
Attending the SaS workshop encouraged me to educate my family, friends and community about the threats of AMR. I decided not to stop there and with the support of my teachers and the SaS team, I went on to educate my classmates along with my friends Jaswanth Pallapothu and Sanvrit Kumar.
Today, my family and I no longer use leftover antibiotics and we always complete the full course. We go for regular health check-ups and purchase antibiotics only with a prescription from a certified professional. We no longer share our antibiotics nor do we recommend our prescription to anyone. The impact of this knowledge has been tremendous for all of us. Today, we know what to do and what not to do with regards to antibiotics!
“The impact of this knowledge has been tremendous for all of us. Today, we know what to do and what not to do with regards to antibiotics!”
What stop SuperBugs are doing to help
Stop Superbugs is helping SaS develop their website and digital resources to help reach more young people across India. They have also helped secure a major donation to help pay for a paid member of staff to help them take the project to the next level.
