WAAW 2020 Highlights Sri Lanka
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 18th to 24th November 2020
To mark the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week with the theme "Unite to preserve antimicrobials", several activities were conducted in Sri Lanka.
WHO Sri Lanka prepared over 30 pieces of translated content on AMR. This content included an original animation, two original video interviews, and the adaptation (translation of text and localization of scenes/images) of several WHO HQ graphics. These materials were disseminated on the WHO Sri Lanka social media pages and our Viber community. The messages were amplified by social media posts and shares from UN Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology, and the Antimicrobial Awareness Facebook Group page run by the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology. During WAAW, 18th to 24th of November 2020, at least two pieces of communication materials were disseminated every day. Additionally, WHO Sri Lanka used online quizzes to engage communities and reinforce knowledge.
The Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists organized a webinar on 17 November 2020, where Dr Enoka Corea, Consultant Microbiologist, Senior lecturer FOM Colombo, discussed antimicrobial resistance, Dr Kushlani Jayatilleke, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist, Sri Jeyawardanapura Hospital, spoke about the prevention of AMR, and Dr Mahen Kothalawala, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist National Hospital Kandy, presented on treatment options for infections with multi-drug resistant organisms. The webinar was attended by medical officers from different fields island wide.
WHO Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Medical Association, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, conducted a webinar on "infection prevention strategies in the COVID-19 situation”. The webinar discussed the misuse of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 viral infection and the misuse of antiseptic sprays to clean surfaces, which will ultimately result in a pandemic of antimicrobial resistance. The webinar also highlighted the danger of irrational use of antibiotics and antiseptics. Two presentations were done by Dr Madhumanee Abeywardena, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist Sirimavo Bandaranayaike Specialized Children's Hospital, Peradeniya, and Dr Bhagya Piyasiri, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya.
