Experts from Nigeria and India participated in the fascinating discussion during the two-day international webinar organised by the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology at Shoolini University. The virtual webinar was held to mark the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW).
Experts from Nigeria and India participated in the fascinating discussion during the two-day international webinar organised by the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology at Shoolini University. The virtual webinar was held to mark the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW).
Inaugurating the webinar, Vice Chancellor Prof PK Khosla emphasised on effective measures to curb the emerging threat of antimicrobial resistance. He also discussed the significance of Ayurveda in curing diseases, adding that Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) was a great treatment for emerging pandemics.
Prof Anuradha Sourirajan, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology welcome the speakers and participants from Nigeria and India. She emphasised the growing concern of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which had become a global health threat. She said that AMR was a silent pandemic, which continued to threaten our ability to treat common infections.
The first session was chaired by Prof Bikash Medhi, Department of Pharmacology and coordinator of Pharmacovigilance Centre at PGIMER, Chandigarh. He spoke on the ‘Quality of Medicine and Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Challenges’. The major challenge in front of the national health care system was to provide appropriate health products and services in a reasonable, reliable, and efficient manner, accessible to the majority of the population.
Dr Puneet Dhamija from AIIMS, Rishikesh, talked about the rational use of antimicrobials and the strategy to minimize the use of antimicrobials. He explained how drug resistance was evolved in bacteria.
The second session was chaired by Professor from Nigeria, Busayo Olayinka, who spoke on ‘Antimicrobial Resistance: The Unending Battle?’ He highlighted the risks associated with antibiotic overuse and initiatives to combat the issue. He said there was a dry antibiotic pipeline as no new antibiotic class had come up in the last three decades.
Prof Titilayo Oyelola Fakeye from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, talked about the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents, the consequences and the way forward with reference to Nigeria.
Dr Oladoja Awofisayo from the University of Uyo, Nigeria, talked about how to combat multi-drug resistance in our environment. Dr Abiodun Egwuenu (MBChB, MPH, Centres for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria) talked about the history of use of antibiotics.
Prof Kamal Dev of Shoolini University apprised the participants about the genesis of the webinar. He shared the ‘One Health’ approach that focused on implementing policies, programmes and research to achieve better human, animal, and environmental health. He said this approach was relevant in combating AMR.