2,300 Asha workers given training in antimicrobial resistance in Ernakulam district

According to Sajna C Narayanan, district coordinator of Asha workers, they have been directed to visit households and conduct awareness classes at the ward level.
Asha workers have been provided with information, education, and communication (IEC) awareness.
Asha workers have been provided with information, education, and communication (IEC) awareness.
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KOCHI: In an initiative aimed at preventing the overuse of antibiotics and tackling antimicrobial resistance, the Ernakulam district health department has launched an antibiotic literacy programme with the cooperation of Asha workers and local bodies.

The programme, the first of its kind in the state, aims to educate the public about antibiotic use and overuse, sanitation, infection prevention and control, clean water, and antibiotic disposal. As many as 2,300 Asha workers have been trained in the district to create awareness on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the major problems healthcare systems across the globe face.

“Educating and creating awareness among the common people about AMR is as important as educating doctors and healthcare workers. So we aim to reach urban, rural, and migrant populations in the district through Asha workers,” said Dr P S Sivaprasad, the Ernakulam district programme manager of the National Health Mission and the nodal officer of the AMR programme.

According to Sajna C Narayanan, district coordinator of Asha workers, they have been directed to visit households and conduct awareness classes at the ward level.

“In the initial phase, we trained 110 Asha workers from panchayats, municipalities, and corporations. They in turn trained the Asha workers at the ward level,” Sajna said.

She said the Asha workers have been provided with information, education, and communication (IEC) awareness.

“They will visit at least 50 households every month to educate the public and conduct awareness classes in all 1,833 wards in the district. Information on AMR will be shared with the public through WhatsApp groups as well,” Sajna said, adding that a review meeting will be held with the participation of Janakiya Aarogya Samithi every month.

Dr Sivaprasad pointed out that the plan is to include the departments of animal husbandry, veterinary, fisheries, and local bodies in the efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance. “We intend to tackle the issue with the ‘one health’ approach. The programme will be implemented phase by phase and later expanded across the state,” he added.

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