Rishikesh: AIIMS Rishikesh inaugurated the ‘World Antimicrobial Awareness Week’ (WAAW) on November 18, 2024, with an aim to spread awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote the judicious use of antimicrobial drugs. The week-long initiative began with a lamp-lighting ceremony, attended by medical experts, healthcare professionals, and faculty members.
The opening session featured key speakers, including AIIMS Executive Director Prof. (Dr.) Meenu Singh, Dean of Academics Prof. (Dr.) Jaya Chaturvedi, and Medical Superintendent Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Mittal, alongside experts such as Dr. Ravi Kant, Dr. Vartika Saxena, and Dr. Prasanna K. Panda. They highlighted the urgent need for AMR awareness and healthcare workers’ pivotal role in combating this global threat. Prof. Meenu Singh emphasized that AMR could reverse decades of medical progress, turning minor infections into life-threatening challenges.
A workshop on AMR management was organized following the inaugural event, training over 100 participants, including senior and junior residents, nursing officers, and faculty members. The session focused on effective AMR strategies, case studies, and best practices in diagnosis and antimicrobial stewardship. Key speakers, including Dr. Prasanna K. Panda and Dr. Vanya Singh, discussed community-level and institutional efforts to mitigate AMR.
On November 19, the second day of the campaign, AIIMS hosted awareness drives in the hospital’s trauma block and OPD registration area. Through role-plays and skits, nursing teams educated patients and their families on infection control measures, hand hygiene, isolation protocols, and biomedical waste management. These sessions aimed to empower the public with actionable insights to curb the spread of AMR.
Simultaneously, a street play by AIIMS nursing students was performed at Shri Atal Utkrisht Rajkiya Inter College in Thano, Dehradun. The skit emphasized the dangers of antibiotic misuse and preventive measures against AMR. Faculty members, including Dr. Rakhi Mishra and Dr. Ruchika Rani, praised the students’ efforts in raising community awareness.
A special IAS (Integrated Antimicrobial Stewardship) assessment session was also announced, wherein hospital wards would be evaluated over the next three days to identify and honor the best-performing IAS champion ward. Dr. Manish Sharma, AIIMS Nursing Faculty, stressed the importance of strict adherence to stewardship practices to curb AMR within hospitals.
Concluding the event, AIIMS reaffirmed its commitment to education, research, and collaboration to combat AMR, aligning its efforts with the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative has not only inspired healthcare professionals but also engaged the public in understanding their role in preserving the efficacy of antimicrobials for future generations.
