News and Opinions  –  2019

ReAct highlights during World Antibiotic Awareness week 2019

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2019-12-12

With activities on the ground in Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Switzerland, the US and Kenya - and with an increased online activity - ReAct leaves this year's World Antibiotic Awareness Week behind with a smile on its face. A week of interaction and intensified work on antimicrobial resistance is really motivating and strengthening - for a world free from fear of untreatable infections.

ReAct met students, children, held seminars, arranged community workshops, media workshops and civil society meetings and much more. Have a look below to get a glimpse of some of the ReAct highlights during World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019.

We also sent out 3 newsletters (articles listed below) and put extra online focus on the ReAct Toolbox and the free online course “Antibiotic Resistance – The silent Tsunami”.

List of all ReAct activities during World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Here you also find contact information for each node.

Tracie Muraya, ReAct Africa with the primary school children. Happy bunch! Photo: ReAct Africa.

School children led celebration of World Toilet Day and World Antibiotic Awareness Week

This year’s World Antibiotic Awareness Week was definitely a memorable one. ReAct Africa was honored to combine the World Toilet Day celebrations with antimicrobial resistance awareness activities, An event led by pupils from three elementary schools from Siaya and Kisumu counties in Kenya. Read article.

The panel had an open and nice discussion with the participants. Photo: ReAct Europe.

Launch of UNICEF’s institutional guidance on antimicrobial resistance

At their headquarters in New York, UNICEF hosted an event on Friday 22nd November, to launch their technical note on antimicrobial resistance. his event, attended by UNICEF staff, representatives from countries’ permanent missions to the UN, representatives from other UN agencies and civil society including ReAct. Read article.

Portrait of Stefan Swartling Peterson and Alex Costa, both Unicef.
Stefan Swartling Peterson, Chief of Health UNICEF, and Alexandre Costa, HIV/AIDS Specialist, UNICEF. Photo: Therese Holm, ReAct and Unicef.

ReAct Interview: Stefan Peterson and Alexandre Costa about UNICEF’s new internal technical guidance paper on AMR

UNICEF will launch its very first internal technical guidance paper on antimicrobial resistance. The paper maps existing activities across the organization that have a direct or indirect impact on antimicrobial resistance – and – identifies areas for future work where Unicef has a comparative advantage.

To learn more about the processes in developing the paper and the reasons why this work was initiated, ReAct interviewed two key persons involved in the process: Stefan Peterson, Chief of Health, UNICEF, and Alexandre Costa, HIV/AIDS Specialist, UNICEF. Read article.

Why are children more vulnerable to AMR?

Resistant bacteria is making effective treatment of common infections more and more challenging and children are especially vulnerable. Children are more susceptible to resistant bacteria because their immune systems are not fully developed. Children differ from adults in that they have many ways of being exposed to germs and infections because their behavior is different. Children living in poverty are even more susceptible to resistant bacteria. Read article. Link to video on Youtube. 

Citizens of Lampung town take part in a public event organized by city authorities to commemorate World Antibiotic Awareness Week. ReAct joined these celebrations. Photo: FAO/Sadewo.

Proposed ban on colistin for animal use announced in Indonesia

A ban on use of colistin in food-animal production and a series of colourful public events, university seminars and student competitions marked the World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019 in Indonesia. ReAct participated in these events. Read article.

Group-photo-of-the-10-winning-teams-of-Innovate4AMR
All the 10 winning teams of Innovate4AMR at the capacity buildning workshop in Geneva, Switezerland. Here with Hanan Balkhy, Hanan Balkhy, Assistant Director-General, AMR. Photo:Innovate4AMR

10 Innovate4AMR-winning teams enjoyed 3-day workshop in Geneva

In its second year, Innovate4AMR has gained widespread interest from both students and professionals working in the field. Through the summer of 2019, Innovate4AMR called for student teams from all around the world for their solutions on Antimicrobial Stewardship in resource-limited settings. In the midst of World Antibiotic Awareness Week the 10 winning teams for across the globe enjoyed a 3-day capacity building workshop in Geneva, Switzerland. Read article and learn more about the winning teams.

Participants enjoying nice healthy food. Photo: ReAct Latin America.

After 4 collaborative meeting days: Actions for the future in Latin America

From November 12 to 15, the second international meeting “Health in the Hands of the Community’”was held in Cuenca, Ecuador. The event focused on use of antibiotics in food production, the environmental impact and spread of bacterial resistance and the consequences it implies for human health. Read article.

M Hariis and Kevin Abraham – an even race – so both share first position in ReAct Asia Pacific photo contest 2019. Photo: M Hariis.

2019 AMR photo competition prizes announced

It was a tough call choosing between various entries to ReAct Asia Pacific’s 2019 photography competition on the theme of antimicrobial resistance. In the end a total of seven winners emerged for the top three prizes, with two sharing the first one, three sharing the second prize and again two dividing the third prize among themselves. Read article and see winning photos.

How should should urgently needed work on Antimicrobial Resistance be funded? Five ways to help AMR funding.

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