To engage the policymakers and Govt relevant departments, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) organized an AMR advocacy workshop and rally at the district level. The officials from the DGDA Head office, including the Director General, participated in the event. To understand and engage the audiences about AMR, posters and educational materials like comics book, presentations, etc., have been distributed among the guests.
In this World AMR Awareness week-2022, DGDA has declared their enrollment in GLASS-Antimicrobial Consumption (AMC) Surveillance, the 6 years (2015 to 2020) AMC report, the summary findings from AMC surveillance, and the regulatory decision to create public awareness through “Red Label” of antibiotic packaging concept and its implementation.
During the 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, DGDA and WHO Bangladesh launched a poster campaign for red labeling to stop antibiotic misuse/curbing self-medication. Along with the red-colored labeling, the DGDA made it imperative upon pharmaceutical companies to send a message to the public through the packaging that antibiotics could only be dispensed and sold when prescribed by registered physicians or registered veterinarians for human and animal use respectively. This is an effort to advocate for the rational use of antibiotics, promoting therapeutically sound and cost-effective treatments with antimicrobials prescribed by health professionals to patients.
Director General-DGDA participating in WAAW 2022 advocacy meeting
This antimicrobial awareness campaign project reached the school students with several IEC materials. On November 21, 2022, the student of class 6 to class 9 of Cox's Bazar Model High School received the comic book produced by DGDA. An art competition was organized with the topic, "Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together." The students received one comic book on two different issues. The first is the story of two sisters, Tinu and Minu, and Superbug's tale. The moral of the Tinu - Minu's story is that antibiotics must be used as prescribed to prevent the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This means adhering to the prescribed dose and duration of treatment, even after the patient feels well, and not sharing or using leftover antimicrobials. The second one is a story about two chickens, Tapa and Gopi. Antibiotic overuse in livestock and aquaculture is now a significant factor in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
School advocacy campaign piloting in Cox’s Bazar Model High School
School advocacy campaign piloting in Cox’s Bazar Model High School
Given their durability, versatility, and capacity to convey complex information utilizing visual elements, comics are appropriate to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance among Class 6 to Class 9 students, thus promoting awareness and health-conscious behaviors.