Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) appears to many like a distant medical concern, but it has already become one of the greatest global health threats of our time. Imagine a world where simple infections become untreatable, where routine surgeries become life-threatening, and where our go-to antibiotics lose their power. That is the grim reality AMR could bring—and it’s happening right now, in our everyday lives. Yet, despite its urgency, the public remains largely unaware of this looming crisis and how they might be inadvertently contributing to it.
On 5 October 2024, Superheroes Against Superbugs (SaS) took part in a crucial discussion on the role of civil society in combating AMR at the inaugural Global South Conference on Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship (G-SPARC 2024) organised by the Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI), Pragyaan Sustainable Health Outcomes (PRASHO) and the University of Hyderabad.
The panel Debugging AMR from Awareness to Action in Everyday Life discussed how we can all play a role in this fight—from healthcare professionals to media, from scientists to patients and the general public.
Dr. Ponnari Gottipati, Co-Founder & Lead, SaS, opened the event by emphasising the importance of expanding the conversation on AMR beyond the walls of labs, hospitals, and research centers. She urged that AMR must become a prominent topic in mainstream discussions, framed in a way that is both compelling and focused on driving concrete, impactful solutions.
Patient Advocacy: A Catalyst for Action
Mr. Manoj Pardeshi, General Secretary of the National Coalition of PLHIV in India, began the discussion with a powerful reflection on his experience in HIV advocacy. Drawing from his years of experience, Mr. Pardeshi shared how his organisation fought against stigma and misinformation surrounding HIV in the late 1990s. Starting with just nine individuals, they built a peer support system that not only empowered people living with HIV to take control of their health but also pushed for political advocacy that led to improved treatment access.
“We told people we can prevent [HIV] within ourselves, and similarly, we need to take ownership in the fight against AMR. The patient’s voice is crucial in managing this growing health threat.”
Mr. Manoj Pardeshi highlighted the importance of patient advocacy at every level of society and government, sharing how engaging with key decision-makers can lead to tangible changes. He recalled a critical moment when his organisation met with then-President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. During the meeting, they explained the urgent need for HIV treatment in India, correcting misconceptions about available treatments and the number of people requiring it. This advocacy helped shift government focus, ultimately leading to the rollout of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) across the country.
His example showed how patients can serve as powerful advocates, using both scientific evidence and their lived experiences to shape policy and drive impactful change. Mr. Pardeshi also stressed the significance of involving public figures, whose influence on the media and public opinion was instrumental in raising awareness and drawing attention to the issue.
Further, he shared insights into their ‘push and pull’ advocacy approach, which balanced accountability with collaboration. On one hand, they worked alongside the government, appreciating its efforts while simultaneously pushing for stronger action on key issues affecting PLHIV.
By drawing parallels with his HIV advocacy experience, Mr. Pardeshi underscored that AMR, much like HIV, is a problem that can be tackled with the right community engagement and awareness efforts. He also highlighted that AMR is especially pertinent to the PLHIV community, as immunocompromised individuals are more vulnerable to infections, and drug resistance can exacerbate their health challenges. His call to action was a reminder that the fight against AMR isn’t limited to healthcare providers; it’s a movement that needs everyone involved.
Media’s Role: Raising Awareness, Shaping Behaviours
The conversation then shifted to the media’s influence on public perceptions of antibiotic use and in tackling AMR. Ms. Viveka Roy Chowdhary, Editor at Express Pharma & Express Healthcare, discussed the challenges in covering health issues like AMR in today’s shrinking newsrooms. She lamented about the declining number of dedicated science and health journalists, as well as the limited access to up-to-date information on AMR, both of which hinder effective media coverage of this critical issue. However, she believed that helping young journalists to recognise the cross-cutting nature of science and health in journalism beats during their training, along with platforms like G-SPARC, could play a vital role in bridging this gap.
“We need more transparent channels of communication …and more conferences like this where more media people are asked to attend, which becomes an opportunity to navigate, network, get in touch with people, build contacts, absorb, listen, and learn what is happening [in AMR].”
Ms. Roy Chowdhary recounted her conversation with Dr. Abdul Ghafur, a leading figure in India’s fight against AMR, in which he described the focused effort that led to the banning of colistin—a last-resort antibiotic—from use in livestock.
“When Dr. Ghafur started on this journey of AMR advocacy, there was a whole list of antibiotics to be banned. But he wisely chose to focus on one—Colistin—and that single message became his rallying cry. And then the government also understood it.”
Ms. Roy Chowdhary stressed the importance of focussing on a specific, clear message to drive change, a strategy that the media can also adopt to amplify awareness campaigns effectively. She also pointed to the potential of social media as a powerful tool in amplifying these focused messages around AMR, making it an essential tool in influencing public behaviour on a large scale.
Empowering Pharmacists as Antibiotic Stewards
Ms. Manjiri Gharat, representing the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation, emphasised the critical and often overlooked role pharmacists play in combating AMR. She explained that in India, pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients seeking medication, making them key influencers in ensuring the rational use of antibiotics. She pointed out that pharmacists are uniquely positioned to guide patients on the appropriate use of antibiotics, educating them on completing their courses and understanding side effects.
Ms. Gharat called for more comprehensive training for pharmacists, enabling them to act as ‘antibiotic stewards.’ She argued for the development of policies that integrate pharmacists into the broader healthcare system.
“Pharmacists need better training to become antibiotic stewards. By developing frameworks that outline their role in antibiotic management, we can prevent overuse and misuse.”
Connecting Science and Society
Dr. Somdatta Karak, Co-Lead, SaS, shared her experience at SaS engaging young people and communities to understand AMR through creative, hands-on approaches. SaS started by working with school students to teach them about microbes and AMR, encouraging them to share these learnings with their families.
“Our aim was simple: educate young people about AMR and have them take this message to their parents. It’s about starting conversations at the grassroots level.”
Dr. Karak highlighted how SaS bridges the gap between science and society by simplifying technical concepts and making them accessible to the lay audience through art, storytelling, and engaging activities. This approach has enabled SaS to connect with a wide range of audiences, from school students to medical professionals.
“We use arts and human stories to make the science of AMR relatable. People need to understand how AMR affects them directly, and storytelling helps humanise the issue.”
She emphasised the importance of shifting the narrative around AMR from abstract statistics to real-life human stories, which make the problem more tangible and immediate. Dr. Karak also stressed the need for medical professionals, especially young doctors and pharmacists, to be trained in communicating with patients about AMR.
“Medical students are eager to learn how to communicate with patients about AMR. These are difficult conversations, but they are crucial in building patient trust and improving outcomes.”
Dr. Karak acknowledged the importance of collaborations with a diverse range of experts who bring their knowledge and expertise to support SaS in promoting awareness and action.
Power of Collaboration
The session closed with a resounding call for collaboration across sectors. From patient organisations to media, pharmacists, and scientists, each stakeholder plays a crucial role in raising awareness and influencing public behaviour on AMR. The panellists emphasised the importance of coordinating efforts, through events like World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and leveraging each other’s vast networks to ensure that AMR messaging reaches every corner of society.
As Dr. Ratna Devi summarised:
“Each one of us has a very important role to play. Collaboration is the key, and we need to share what each one is doing to maximise our collective impact.”
The panel at G-SPARC 2024 was a testament to the importance of bringing together diverse voices to tackle AMR, a challenge that requires collective action across all sectors of society.