(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Aster Medical Centres and Hospital in Qatar, a division of Aster DM Healthcare, a leading integrated healthcare services provider has observed World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) with a series of activities and urged healthcare professionals and community to become Antibiotic Guardian. The campaign was held at all Aster Medical Centres and Aster Hospital across Qatar.
WAAW is an international campaign initiated by World Health Organization (WHO) 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 week long campaign, Aster reached out to the patient, public and health professionals via direct contact and though 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 1000 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 reiterate on theme of the WAAW campaign, Antibiotics, Handle with Care, 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. Antibiotic resistance arises when bacteria survive despite encountering antibiotic medicines designed to kill them. As a result, many infections have become increasingly difficult to cure.
Dr. Nahla Hassan Sharaf from the Ministry of Public Health narrated consequences of AMR are serious: 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 this allows time for the bacteria in your system to become resistant.
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