Aster Medical Centres & Hospital in Qatar, a division of Aster DM Healthcare, has observed World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) with a series of activities and urged healthcare professionals and community to become antibiotic guardians.
The campaign was held at all Aster Medical Centres and Aster Hospital across Qatar.
WAAW is an international campaign initiated by World Health Organisation in each November which aims to increase global awareness of antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.
During the November 12-18 campaign, Aster reached out to patients, public and health professionals through direct contact and through a social media campaign using infographics, quizzes, posters and success stories to raise awareness of the need to act on antibiotic resistance and what kinds of steps we can take.
As a part of awareness week more than 1,000 community members and around 500 healthcare professionals have signed pledge to use antibiotics responsibly and create awareness about antibiotic resistance.
Dr Sameer Moopan, chief executive officer, Aster DMH Qatar reiterated on theme of the WAAW campaign.
“’Antibiotics: Handle with Care’, the campaign reflects the overarching message that antibiotics are a precious resource and should be preserved. They should be used to treat bacterial infections, only when prescribed by a qualified health professional. Antibiotics should never be shared and should be taken as directed and not saved for the future. Antibiotic resistance, however, limits and can even eradicate the power of antibiotics, putting individuals and communities at greater health risk,” said Dr Moopan.
Dr Nahla Hassan Sharaf from Ministry of Public Health highlighted that the consequences of antimicrobial resistance are serious and resistant microbes fail to respond to standard treatment, resulting in prolonged illness, infectiousness, increased spread of disease and extended hospital stays.
Dr Mahesh Patel, senior manager, Quality Assurance, Aster DMH Qatar said the more antibiotics are used, the more chances bacteria to become resistant to them.
Major causes of antibiotic resistance include using antibiotics when they are not needed and not taking antibiotics at the doses and times that a doctor prescribes.
Dr Nahla Hassan Sharaf and representatives of Ministry of Public Health with Aster officials during awareness activities.
