The World Health Organization observes a week every year from Nov. 18-24 in order to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance. It promotes the disseminating of related knowledge and ways to prevent and minimize resistance. In tins context, the Faculty of Pharmacy observed World Antimicrobial Awareness Week from November 18, 2021, through November 24, 2021, A week. in collaboration with Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
Webinar: A webinar was held on the theme "Antimicrobials: Spread awareness, stop Resistance". It was relayed through youtube and attracted x views. The event began with the welcome address by Prof. Syed Misbah ul Hasan, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, where he welcomed the speakers and discussed the context and the need for creating awareness to the community regarding antimicrobial resistance. It was followed by the keynote address by Prof. Javed Mussarat, Vice Chancellor, Integral University. Prof. Javed elaborated on the topic and enlightened the audience about this issue of serious concern. His address was followed by an expert talk by Prof. Mad U. Khan, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. The session was concluded by a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Tarique Mehmood.
Hospital visit/Rural visit: The above event was followed by the awareness drives in adopted villages and hospital visits which included IIMS&R, Integral University, and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital - Civil Hospital. The main focus of the staff and students of Pharmacy is to raise awareness among physicians, health care specialists, and the general public on the rational use of antibiotics through visiting hospitals and rural areas.
The motive was to request the Health Care specialists on prescribing the right antibiotic and only if needed, encouraging school children on the importance of hand and oral hygiene, advising the general public on proper nutrition, and getting recommended vaccines to prevent infections. It was aimed at spreading awareness about the use and misuse of antibiotics in the community. As a medical experts, the pharmacists are also counseling the patients on the proper way of storage and administration of antibiotics, the right time, and advised duration of treatment as part of the Be Antibiotics Aware, an educational effort by the Center for Disease Control to raise awareness about the importance of safe antibiotic prescribing and use.
The events of the awareness week concluded through a street play enacted by the student participants and awareness walk wherein the students conveyed the message through innovative placards. The walk was flagged by Honorable Chancellor, Integral University, Prof. Syed Waseem Akhtar. The event was also graced by the presence of Honorable Pro Chancellor, Dr. Syed Nadeem Akhtar, Honorable Vice Chancellor. Prof. Javed Musarrat, Prof. Mohd. Haris Siddiqui, Registrar, Integral University, and Prof. Aqil Ahmad, Pro Vice Chancellor, Integral University. Other high dignitaries and authorities participated in the walk which reflected the concern of the university officials towards the health of the general public and society at large. Dr. Mohd. Yasir, the representative from Aligarh Muslim University, joined us in all the events and encouraged the students.
The core committee consisted of Dr. Vaseem Ahmad Ansari, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Dr. Anuradha Mishra, Dr. Shazia Afzal Usmani, Dr. Badruddeen, Dr. Juber Akhtar, Dr. Farogh Ahsan, Dr. Mohd. Afroz Ahmad and Mr.Irfan Aziz Organizing Secretaries of the programme Prof. Syed Misbahul Hasan, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Dr. Tarique Mahmood Austin, Head, Faculty of Pharmacy