The Antibiotic Awareness Walk was held in Colombo on 27th of December, organized by Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists in collaboration with WHO and Ministry of Health to commemorate the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024. The walk aimed to educate the public on the responsible use of antibiotics, prevention of resistance, and the importance of healthcare initiatives in safeguarding the efficacy of antibiotics.
The walk commenced at the Independence square, gathering a diverse group of participants, including healthcare professionals, students, educators and policymakers. The walk was marked with the display of educational materials, banners and poster highlighting key messages which include dangers of misuse and overuse of antibiotics. The walk took participants through prominent areas in Colombo, including Lipton roundabout, and stopped at Ministry of Health.
The walk was also part of a broader outreach campaign organized by SLCM, which included training of trainer’s workshops, public health workshops, and health center activities that ran throughout several months. These initiatives aimed to engage varying categories of healthcare professionals and general public in understanding the importance of using antibiotics responsibly.
The walk concluded with a call to action, urging participants to make a commitment to responsible antibiotic use and to spread the message to others in their communities. Organizers emphasized that everyone, from healthcare professionals to the general public, has a role to play in combating antibiotic resistance. The walk was a success in generating greater awareness about the issue and sparked discussions on how to improve antibiotic stewardship in Sri Lanka.
