Awareness session to prevent antibiotic misuse held in Kishoreganj

Bashundhara Shuvosangho organised an awareness discussion session on preventing the indiscriminate and excessive use of antibiotics at Ashtagram Zero Point, Ashtagram upazila, Kishoreganj on Friday.

At the same time, the formal activities of the newly formed Ashtagram upazila unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho were launched with the aim of engaging young people in humanitarian and social welfare activities.

The event was conducted by the upazila unit’s President, Md Touhidul Islam Tupu, and General Secretary Nishad Shakil.

Speakers said that although antibiotics are important and effective medicines for treating diseases, their uncontrolled, unnecessary and excessive use can pose serious health risks. Taking antibiotics without a doctor’s advice, using incorrect doses or stopping the medication before completing the prescribed course can cause bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance.

This could make even common infections more difficult to treat in the future, they warned.

Md Touhidul Islam Tupu said, “Antibiotics are not ordinary medicines. They should not be taken without a doctor’s advice.” He called on families, educational institutions, health workers and young people to work together to stop the practice of taking antibiotics on one’s own initiative for minor fever, cold, cough or viral illnesses.

He further said people should take the right antibiotic, at the right dose and for the prescribed duration, as advised by a doctor. He urged people to refrain from taking medicines based on someone else’s prescription, reusing antibiotics based on an old prescription, or stopping the medication midway without consulting a doctor.

The speakers stressed the importance of raising public awareness to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics. They also called for discussions at educational institutions led by young people, leaflet distribution and various awareness programmes at the local level.