LV Prasad Eye Institute’s ‘Race Against Awareness’ to combat Antimicrobial Resistance
HYDERABAD: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) threatens the future of modern medicine, but together we can change that. This is the rallying cry from L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), which is set to launch the ‘Race Against Awareness: AMR Awareness 4K Challenge’ on Sunday, November 2, 2025, as a prelude to World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. This awareness run is part of the Bug Busters 5.0 conference at LV Prasad Eye Institute. The event aims to raise awareness about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a major health concern driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
Dr. Shivaranjani Santosh, a paediatrician recently celebrated for her successful public health campaign, adds a significant voice to the cause. She secured a landmark order from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), requiring any product labelled ‘Oral Rehydration Salts’ (ORS) to strictly adhere to World Health Organization (WHO) standards and prevent dilution of this critical life-saving formula.
The ‘Race Against Awareness’ serves as a key public health initiative. “Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of the fastest-growing health threats of our time, and most people don’t know they could be contributing to it. The World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity,” read a statement released by LVPEI.
LVPEI underscores the urgency of the issue by sharing alarming data. The World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats. A recent WHO report describes the findings as “deeply concerning,” and predicts a 70% increase in related deaths by 2050. The report also notes that more than 40% of antibiotics lost potency against common infections between 2018 and 2023.
India faces a particularly grave situation, ranking among the top countries globally for mortality due to AMR. In 2019 alone, the country recorded approximately 297,000 deaths directly attributable to AMR and over 1.04 million deaths where AMR contributed. LVPEI notes that a staggering two-thirds of these cases occurred in the productive age group of 15 to 64 years, highlighting the massive socio-economic impact on the nation.
A panel of distinguished medical leaders, including Dr. Prashant Garg, Executive Chair of LVPEI, Dr. Namrata Sharma from AIIMS, New Delhi, and Dr. Savitri Sharma, Director Emeritus of Laboratory Services at LVPEI, will flag off the event.
The 4-kilometer run flag-off starts at 6:00 a.m. at LVPEI, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Banjara Hills. Afterward, participants and attendees can join a breakfast to discuss addressing antimicrobial resistance.
