New Delhi: Catch them young. Guided by this philosophy, schools across Delhi have joined hands with public health experts to educate students about the dangers of antibiotic misuse and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Taking the lead, the Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD), in collaboration with the National Science Centre and the World Health Organization (WHO), organised a school outreach programme titled “Act Now, Stay Smart: School Edition on AMR” as part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2025 and World Science Day.
The programme brought together students from over 15 schools across Delhi and the NCR, with more than 250 children taking part in a day of interactive learning. Through quizzes, games and engaging activities, complex health messages were simplified to help students understand how everyday choices can protect life-saving medicines.
Opening the event, Dr. Ravindra Aggarwal, former Additional Director General, Government of Delhi, stressed that antimicrobial resistance is no longer a future concern. “It is already affecting families today. What we do now will decide whether these medicines work for the next generation,” he said.
Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, Professor at IHBAS, Delhi and President of DSPRUD, explained why antibiotics must be used carefully. “Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, are among the greatest discoveries in medical science. They are the reason a small cut does not turn into a life-threatening infection. They make surgeries safe. They save newborns, accident victims, and people with serious diseases.
“These medicines are silent heroes in our lives. But here is the hard reality—the same medicines that save lives can lose their power when they are misused or overused for trivial illnesses. Misuse leads to superbugs, making infections harder to treat and treatments costlier or even ineffective. This problem starts in homes, farms, and everyday choices, and it affects everyone because we do not have new antimicrobials coming in.”
Rajesh Jain, Managing Director, Panacea Biotec Ltd, underscored the broader vision of the campaign: “This campaign is not just another school program. It is about protecting our health today and securing our future tomorrow.” Students are the health ambassadors. Teachers have an equally powerful role. Every time you follow correct medical advice, every time you say no to unnecessary medicines, every time you teach a child patience instead of pushing for a “quick antibiotic,” you are helping protect the future.
At the same time, M Ansari, Education Head, National Science Center, highlighted the scientific reality behind AMR: “Germs are ubiquitous, and the tug of war between germs and antibiotics is getting serious. If antibiotics continue to be overused and misused, the medicines we rely on today will become ineffective.
Dr. Vandana Bagga, Director of Health and Family Welfare, Delhi Government inspired students to take a pledge.
“Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.” This theme reflects the urgent need for coordinated action across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicines. Alongside rational use of medicines, sanitation and hygiene play a critical role in preventing infections and reducing the need for antibiotics, she added.
Dr. NV Kamat, Former DGHS and Executive Vice President of DSPRUD, added: “It is our social responsibility to protect our present and secure our future for the next generations.”
Kamat told students that antibiotics have transformed medicine by making infections, surgeries and childbirth safer. “But when these medicines are used unnecessarily or incorrectly, they lose their power. This leads to ‘superbugs’ that are difficult and expensive to treat.”
Speakers agreed that schools are central to the fight against AMR because habits are formed early and children carry these messages home. Students were reminded that the goal was not to memorise medical terms, but to adopt smart health behaviour.
#amr #dghs #dsprud #antibiotic #antimicrobialresistance
For any query mail at indiahealthbuddy@gmail.com
