ICAR-CIFRI organised World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW-2020).
World AMR awareness week under the “Indian Network for Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR)” programme was organised by ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore during 18th to 24th November 2020. The main objective of the programme is to create awareness among the fish farmers, fishermen, animal rearing farmers to reduce the use of antibiotics in the rearing and growing period of the fish and animals. In this connection, an awareness programme was created at Farakka, West Bengal on 18th Nov. 2020. More than 50 fishermen, youth, women, and students were participated with maintaining proper guideline for Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. A. K. Sahoo, PI of the project describes the importance of the week (18th to 24th November 2020) for creating wider awareness on the antibiotic uses and consequences of the over and under use of antibiotics towards developing antibacterial resistance. Furthermore, Dr. Sahoo highlighted the role of effective communications including mass media through radio talks and news clips in the local language. In this programme, masks, sanitizers and leaflets were distributed among the participants. Mr. Arnab Chakrabarty, a news reporter of the UttarBanga Sambad was highly motivated by the programme and suggested to carry forward such activities in large numbers at the village level. A pledge was taken by all the participants to stop misusing the antimicrobial products in animals and fisheries and in Inland open waters particularly in ponds, rivers and wetlands. As a part of the awareness programme, more than 40 students from Digsui Sadhana Banga Vidyalaya, Hooghly Dist, West Bengal were participated in a virtual platform on the topic “ Antibiotics: Handle with Care” on 21st Nov 2020. Furthermore, research scholars and scientific staffs of the ICAR-CIFRI were participated on the AMR awareness programme and the theme and objectives were vividly explained by Dr. A. K. Bera, Co-PI of the AMR project. The programme was co-ordinated under the guidance of Dr. B.K.Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore.