Date of release: 09 June 2017
A competition where children created posters to raise awareness about the use of antibiotics has won a prestigious national award
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) were shortlisted in the Children and Family category of the Antibiotic Guardian Awards in April following a successful antibiotic poster competition ran in partnership with NHS Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and City of Wolverhampton Council.
The competition was part of a city-wide campaign which aimed to make people more aware of the dangers of misusing antibiotics. If left unchecked it could lead to a shortage, or see bacteria become resistant to these potentially life-saving drugs.
After learning about the correct use of antibiotics in school, children made posters to spread the message. The five winning pieces were showcased for six weeks in the Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Some of the posters designed by the school children were also showcased at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases conference, which took place in Vienna, Austria in April.
And last night at the awards ceremony at the Imperial College in South Kensington, London, the team behind the competition were judged the winners of their category.
Riva Eardley, from the Primary Care Medicines Team at RWT, said: "I am delighted that the project received recognition. I think this success comes down to collaborative working between all those involved and especially the hard work and dedication of our school nurses and the enthusiasm of the children that took part."
Vanessa Whatley, project lead for RWT, added: "Working with children, and their families and schools, is core to changing the expectation of the public regarding antibiotics. We are already hearing how those involved in this project are thinking differently about how to manage common ailments without antibiotic treatment. This award celebrates this successful work of the school nurses, teaching staff and children and the importance of collaborative working across health, commissioning and education".
Ros Jervis, City of Wolverhampton Council Director for Public Health & Wellbeing, said: “What a fantastic achievement. I am so proud of our city’s school children for leading the way in the fight against antibiotic resistance.”
David Birch, Head of Medicines Optimisation, Wolverhampton CCG, said: “The competition was a great success because we were able to educate the pupils about one of the biggest threats facing us today – antibiotic resistance. Teaching people from a young age about the correct use of antibiotics will be of lifelong benefit.”
Without effective antibiotics, many routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous. Setting broken bones, basic operations, even chemotherapy and animal health all rely on access to antibiotics that work.
Members of the public can become an Antibiotic Guardian, signing a pledge to help prevent the overuse of antibiotics or to take them only as prescribed.
To sign the pledge, and to see the full shortlist of nominees for the award, go to www.antibioticguardian.com
ENDS
For more information contact Richard Radcliffe on 01902695900
