Risk Management and Prevention of Antibiotics Resistance-Prevent It

State Level Workshop on ‘ Risk Management and Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance’: As a partners of “ERASMUS+ and Chitkara University, Chandigarh ,VHAT organized it on 24th July,2023 in collaboration with: National Health Mission, Tripura State, in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Hostel, Agartala, with 80 participants from Health Dept, Animal Husbandry and Civil Society Organizations throughout Tripura. It was inaugurated at 10.00 a m by Shri Tinku Roy, Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare & Social Education, Labour, Youth Affairs & Sports, Gov. of Tripura. Other dignitaries in inaugural session were Mr. Haridulal Acharjee, Sabhadhipati- West Tripura Dist,Dr. Anuradha Majumder on behalf of Director of Family Welfare & Preventive Medicine, Dr.H.P.Sharma-Director of Medical Education,Gov of Tripura, Mrs Sikha Saha DasPresident of VHAT and Dr.Sreelekha Ray, Executive Director of VHAT.
Community Mobilization

Lightening the lamp by Shri Tinku Roy, Hon'ble Minister of SWSE,Youth Affairs & Sports , Gov of Tripura

In welcome address Dr. Sreelekha Ray, Executive Director of VHAT mentioned that antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a diverse problem which affects not only humans and other living beings, but also the environment. Looking at the severity of the problem of ABR an urgent action plan is needed to control it. The crisis needs to be targeted as ‘One Health ‘perspective because health of human, animals & environment is connected. One Health means joint effort of several sectors in recognizing the interconnection between human. animals, plants and our environment in the development of antibiotic resistance.

The Hon’ble Minister stated that such awareness generation meeting should also be organized among the grass root people of the rural areas of Tripura. Technical Session was started at 11.00 a m . Moderator was Dr.Nupur Debbarma,Member Secretary of National Health Mission of Tripura.

First Speaker: Dr Shanta Sutradhar,Assistant Professor,Agartala Gov Medical College.Her topic was ‘Rationality of Antibiotic use for Human Health care. Dr Sutradhar highlighted the followings:-

Antibiotic a medicine or chemical that can destroy harmful bacteria in the body or limit their growth.

  • Intake of antibiotic with correct dose and course to produce the most possible benefits and less possible side effects.
  • Should do appropriate use of antibiotic wherever it is needed.
  • Underuse & over use of antibiotics is irrational.
  • Antibiotics are the most prescribed drugs all over the world and approximately 50% of antibiotics are prescribed or used without need of the patients .
  • Community Mobilization

    Dr.D.P.Awasthi,Assistant Professor –Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Tripura speaking on “Use of antibiotics and pesticides in Agri & Horti sectors, issues and challenges”

    Community Mobilization

    Speaker: Dr Shanta Sutradhar,Assistant Professor,Agartala Gov Medical College with VHAT President Mrs Sikha Saha Das

    Community Mobilization

    Dr.Subhro De, Assistant Professor,College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Tripura, delivering his speech

    There are serious consequences of irrational use of antibiotics.

    Antibiotic Resistance :

  • According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance occurs when antibiotics used to treat an infection fail to do so.
  • This can affect anyone, of any age, in any country.
  • This is global health emergency and kills at least 700,000 people a year. If no action is taken, it is predicted to increase to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 making it deadlier than cancer.
  • Dr. Sutradhar then discussed about irrational use of antibiotics & way to prevent the ABR. She concluded by saying-‘Discovery of antibiotics was the weapon in our hand against the Death. But wrong use of these medicines made them our foe. Antibiotic resistance is created by human mistakes.’

    Second speaker :Dr.Subhro De, Assistant Professor,College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Tripura. His topic was “Use of antibiotics in Animal Husbandry sector and its consequences” ,which he discussed in details.In end he commented- “Combat antimicrobial resistance: No action today, no cure tomorrow”.

    Third speaker :Dr.D.P.Awasthi,Assistant Professor - –Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Tripura, spoke on use of antibiotics and pesticides in Agri & Horti sectors, issues and challenges.

    Dr Awasthi mainly highlighted the followings:- Antibiotics are active on plants for less than a week, and significant residues have not been found on harvested fruits. Antibiotics have been indispensable for crop protection in the United States for more than 50 years without reports of adverse effects on human health or persistent impacts on the environment. Dr. Awasthi gave emphasis on biological control of pests , e.g use of neem spray to the trees is better than using pesticides . Trichoderma and cow dung mixture with 21 days of preservation and after that spread it to the soil will strengthen the soil quality.

    In the question-answer session - There were many queries from the audiences ,such as-

  • Creation of awareness about ABR among the the common mass.
  • Control of irrational practices of use of antibiotics
  • Control / prevention of harms from pesticides
  • Awareness raising for maintenance of withdrawal period for animal foods
  • All the queries were explained by the Speakers & the Moderator.

    In the conclusion , again it was emphasized that ‘One Health approach to combating ABR / AMR in human, animal and environment sectors requires sustained governmental & private/non- governmental sector partnership with a commitment to surveillance, research, education and innovations. Public awareness and education are critical for preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics/antimicrobials.