Posted on: Fri 19-11-2021

 Since the discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, the entire world of antibiotics sprung up, as scientists were able to carry out experiments and researches on the field of antibiotics. More discoveries were being made in the medical and pharmaceutical world leading to the production of life saving drugs, these scientic advancements saw diseases termed terminal at that time to be cured and human life was generally prolonged.

It is bizarre to think that after almost a century of the birth of this revolutionary science in our world, the spread of the general awareness of what anitbiotics entails is still relatively low. A lot in the population do not have the basic knowledge of what antibiotics are, and what they can do. Antibiotics still remain a mystery to people.

It is as a result of this that the World Health Organization (WHO) established that the 18th to the 24th day in the November of every year be observed as World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW). This week is designed to educate and sensitize people on antibiotics using every possible medium that our age has made available. The 2021 theme: "Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance" clearly shows the grave need for people to be aware of antibiotics most especially now in the age of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). And in commermoration of this year's World's Antibiotics Awareness week, I will thoroughly explain the basic idea of antibiotics, so that we all get more informed.

As we celebrate this year's World Antibiotics Awareness Week, you should take responsibility with the knowledge you've gained with this article, take drugs completely as prescribed by the physician, spread awareness and stop resistance.

Oluwaseyi Egbewande, is an undergraduate student pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State

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