July 12, 2024
AMR (antimicrobial resistance) occurs when germs evolve to resist medicines, making infections challenging or even impossible to treat. It can increase the spread, severity, and fatality of diseases.
AMR infections can affect anyone, and everyone plays a crucial role in limiting their spread. For kids, preventing infections from happening in the first place is a powerful way to aid in the effort to control AMR.
- Teach them about germs: It’s hard for kids to help prevent the spread of germs and infections if they don’t know what they are. By understanding how germs spread and change, children can learn preventive measures that reduce the need for antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments. Vesting them with this knowledge early on helps cultivate responsible practices to combat AMR.
- Make them hand washing experts: Teaching kids the importance of washing their hands and how to do it correctly reduces the spread of harmful germs, minimizing the need for antibiotics and preserving their effectiveness. Instilling this habit early gives children an active role in preventing infections and safeguarding public health from the threat of AMR.
- Get them vaccinated: By ensuring children receive vaccinations against preventable diseases, we reduce the need for and potential misuse of antimicrobials, which in turn helps preserve their effectiveness for serious infections. Educating children about vaccination empowers them to contribute to a healthier future where antibiotics and other medicines keep working to save lives.
