The Global South Conference on Infection Prevention, Control, and Antimicrobial Stewardship, known as G-Sparc 2024, took place over three days in Hyderabad. The conference highlighted the global health security threat posed by Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), widely recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Centre for Disease Control, and the United Nations. Shailaja Teacher, the former health minister of Kerala, emphasized AMR as a silent pandemic, requiring a unified health approach.
In her speech, she shared the insights gained from the proactive AMR measures taken in Kerala, including the AMR action plan. This was a significant step forward for India, providing useful guidance for the management of health crises and disease outbreaks. It is projected that the worldwide cost of battling AMR will reach a staggering $1000 trillion by 2050, a figure that underscores the importance of implementing robust and effective strategies.
The state of Kerala made a major stride towards combating AMR by launching a sub-national action plan known as KARSAP in 2018. Developed and executed using a One Health Platform, initiatives such as the Antibiotic Literate Kerala Campaign and an AI-based Antibiogram App were launched to promote prudent antibiotic usage.
Panel discussions also addressed critical issues within infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices. Dr. Evita Fernandez, Chair of the Fernandez Foundation, emphasized the crucial role nurses play as custodians of patients and highlighted the need for creating a respectful working environment, with mutual understanding and equality between medical professionals.
For effective AMR plans, IPC, and AMS, Dr. Anuj Sharma from the WHO Country Office of India, emphasized the importance of state governments’ agreement. The conference objective was to provide a platform for stakeholders from resource-limited regions to collaborate on IPC, AMR, and patient safety, enabling better research, policies, and practices.
The G-Sparc 2024 conference was a hive of thought-provoking discussions and insight, paving the way for innovative strategies to combat the global health threat of AMR. The conference was organized by IFCAI, UoH, and PRASHO, with support from over a hundred esteemed partners.