Executive Director NIH dubs AMR as ‘Silent Pandemic’

By Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Executive Director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Major General Professor Aamer Ikram has said that we are currently facing the COVID-19 pandemic and like COVID, the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is considered as ‘Silent Pandemic’; therefore, it is much needed to design strategies to overcome the injudicious and unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Major General Professor Aamer Ikram made these remarks while speaking on Children and University Students’ Creative Competitions on AMR in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The aim of this competition was to raise awareness of this issue, and enable young children and university students to learn about the topic.

The NIH, Islamabad in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrated AMR week from November 18-24, 2020.

Along with a series of activities, the NIH has organized many activities including a video and poster competition for children aged 6-14 years and university students about antibiotic awareness.

Accordingly, videos and posters have been received from 70 participants across the country. In this context, a ceremony for award distribution was held at NIH. The winners and runners-up were invited to this ceremony with their families to receive their cash-prizes along with certificates.

The Executive Director NIH congratulated all school and university students and praised their work, which reflected their creativity and their vision. He said that under one health concept, this increasing concern is serious as there is excessive and unnecessary use of antibiotics in human, animal, and agriculture fields.

Professor Aamer Ikram said that in our Country there is an unnecessary use of antibiotics and over the counter sale of antibiotics is seen.

All the children and university students brought their creative work which demonstrated how AMR occurs and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.