World Antimicrobial Awareness Week ( WAAW)

WORLD ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AWARENESS WEEK (WAAW) 2025 at SAL Institute of Medical Sciences, Opp. Science city, Ahmedabad

As one of the WHO’s official health campaign’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) is mandated by the world health assembly and is commemorated annually from 18^th to 24^th November.

The theme for WAAW 2025 IS “Act Now, Protect our Present, Secure Our Future”. The theme underscores the urgent need to take bold and united action to address Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Under the directives of “Commissioner of Health (Rural) & Mission Director, National Health Mission, Gujarat, Department of Microbiology, SAL Institute of Medical Sciences(SIMS) have organized four day consecutive program for the awareness and containing the spread of resistant super bugs in the hospital and community. Shri Rajendra Shah Sir, CMD of SAL Education & Medical college has bestowed blessings to proceed with this great cause & spread awareness amongst the Medical fraternity, students & community. Dr Nitin Shah, Director, SIMS, Ahmedabad is a part of the program & has assigned Dr. Parijat Goswami Professor & Head, Microbiology Department to organize & conduct the program.

Along with Dr. Parijat Goswami all the other faculty members, Dr. Aruna Gautam, Dr. Mitali Maradia, Dr. Afroz Bloch, Dr. Nirmal Shah, Dr. Etisha Nawani, Dr. Manpreet Kaur, Dr. Nidhi Barot & Dr. Hanspriya Bhagat successfully participated to conduct the program. The activities like familiarizing everyone with NABH happening at SAL hospital like antibiogram, use of antibiotic policies, judiciously using restricted antibiotics, and antibiotic prophylaxis with the emphasis on infection prevention & control activities to prevent dissemination of super bugs (Multi drug resistant bacteria) in the hospital environment. All these activities were focused under the “One health approach” integrating strategies recognizing the interconnectedness of human and environmental health to promote well being & address health challenges in hospitals.

The program started on Day-1 with the orientation & sensitization workshop for the faculties, students and non medical staff with the overview of the program, Poster competition by second and third MBBS students with the theme of “AMR Monster in OPD & IPD” and there was presentation on AMR awareness activities in SAL hospital by the faculties. On Day-2 there was a wonderful presentation of Self directed learning (SDL) and seminar by the second MBBS students. Day -3 included Quiz competition on AMR & IPC for Undergraduate students. The concluding session was on Day-4 which included “Infection prevention & control audit success stories focusing on trends of quality indicators of Hospital acquired infections, antibiograms & Prescription audits as a means of antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP). The day ended by thanking Shri Rajendra Shah, Chairman & Managing Director &, Dr.Nitin Shah, Director SIMS & the Judges and felicitating the faculties involved in the activities of WAAW & prizes and certificates distribution to the winners of the competitions & all participants.