The Islamic University of Gaza inaugurated the events of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week campaign (WAAW 2021), which was scheduled to continue from 18th to 24th of November 2021.
Inaugural Conference
The campaign started with a conference led by the keynote speaker and organizer Prof. Abdelraouf Elmanama, Professor of Microbiology at IUG and the representative of E-Bug Project in Palestine, who noted that: “The campaign comes as a continuation of what we have started in the past years of exerted efforts to raise awareness of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials and the negative effects of their misuse or excessive use. This is in addition to drawing attention to the best methods that limit the aggravation of this problem and working to give advice to the public or workers in health sector especially in the field of drug dispensing and infection control”.
He continued that: “our slogan for this year is to stop antibiotic resistance, and because the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is highly complicated, I must emphasize that more efforts should be exerted among all relevant parties to contain this issued”.
Opening Session
In the opening session, Prof. Elmanama clarified that: “the term “microbes” was adopted and expanded to include all pathogens such as viruses, fungi and parasites, not just bacteria. In the last few years the campaign was known as World Antibiotic Awareness Week but now it is altered to Antimicrobial. The change of the naming is a strong indication that we are not only facing a problem with bacteria, but also with viruses, parasites and fungi”.
Prof. Elmanama assured that there are signs indicating the misuse of antibiotics, adding that: “I would like you to imagine the critical phase we are about to face; the inflammation of a simple wound will be a source of threat to human health as a result of this phenomenon”
Participants in the opening session also addressed key elements related to spreading knowledge of the phenomenon of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Lectures and Scientific Papers
Prof. Elmanama presented the global action plan for antimicrobial resistance, Ms. Monia Hamdouna and Ms. Nesma Elhelo spoke about antibiotics and quality control at microbiology lab in MSF. Dr. Nahid Allaham discussed the alternatives of antimicrobials, Dr. Deirdre Noonan reviewed the experience of Doctors without Borders (MSF) in treating osteitis using the antibiotic supervision program. Ms. Nour Abu Tayyem spoke about self – medication in the Gaza strip, while Dr. Ola Albardwil presented a study about the use and misuse of antibiotics in Gaza.
It is worth mentioning that the events of WAAW 2021 began on 18th of this month with a lecture delivered by Prof. Abdelraouf Elmanama on Facebook and local radio about the harms of the antibiotics misuse. The events are scheduled to continue by holding scientific days and events at Al-azhar University, Al-israa University, the Ministry of Health, and MSF campaign at IUG.
