By The Insight Post Uganda
New Delhi, India
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the World Health Organization (WHO)-India jointly organized a national consultation in a pivotal response to the burgeoning crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR),.
The event, inaugurated by CSE Director General Sunita Narain, marked the initiation of a comprehensive strategy involving stakeholders from the food, animal, crop, and waste sectors.
“Our response to the crisis of antimicrobial resistance or AMR is now not just limited to human health. The action that is needed from stakeholders of the food, animal, crop and waste sectors is now becoming clear,” said Narain.
The consultation, a part of the World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) observed annually from November 18-24, brought together over 50 stakeholders from more than 15 states in India.
The objective was to discuss and strategize actions at the state level to prevent and contain AMR, which has been described as a ‘silent pandemic’ with severe repercussions on health, livelihood, and overall development.
Dr. Roderico H Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, stressed the critical need for all states and Union territories to develop their State Action Plans for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (SAPCAR). He stated the importance of adopting a One Health approach, engaging key stakeholders across various sectors.
Amit Khurana, Director of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme at CSE, echoed Dr. Ofrin’s sentiments, that states should take the lead in implementing multi-sectoral actions in India.
The consultation witnessed the release of a joint CSE-WHO report titled ‘One Health Action to Prevent and Contain AMR in Indian States and Union Territories.’
This report, compiled based on inputs from experts and stakeholders in various state government departments, outlines cost-effective, implementable interventions across human health, livestock, fisheries, crops, and the environment.
The suggested actions encompass key areas such as awareness building and education, surveillance, AMR prevention and control, and optimized antibiotic use.
Narain stressed the importance of a development agenda with reduced chemical use in food production, prevention strategies to mitigate the cost of AMR, and responsible management of last-resort antibiotics and waste to contain the spread of AMR.
Key suggestions
However, several recommendations have been put forth, encompassing the identification of specific target audiences to create awareness and facilitate education. This involves the development of precise and lucid messaging, utilising various mediums such as slogans, films, jingles, survivor stories, and case studies.
Additionally, there is a call for the utilisation of diverse platforms to disseminate awareness, preferably in local languages. These platforms may include social media, department websites, information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, as well as advertisements.
Moreover, the suggestions involve actively observing AMR Week and implementing ongoing programs focused on awareness, education, and training. A key proposal is to integrate an understanding of AMR into mainstream education.
Concerning the livestock, fisheries, and crops sector, the emphasis is placed on disease prevention. This includes strategies such as biosecurity measures, vaccination, infection prevention and control, and the exploration of alternative approaches.
Lastly, within the environmental sector, the recommendations underscore the importance of creating awareness about both point and non-point sources of AMR pollution. The suggestions include highlighting how waste management practices can contribute to reducing such pollution and identifying existing measures or solutions in place.
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