CM Revanth Reddy to Inaugurate the Event and Launch State AMR Plan
Photo Aleem Style
Hyderabad, September 30, 2024: The Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is set to inaugurate the Global South Conference on Infection Prevention, Control, and Antimicrobial Stewardship (G-SPARC 2024), a prestigious three-day event taking place from October 3-5 at Shilpakala Vedika, Hitech City, Hyderabad.
During the inauguration, the Chief Minister will also unveil the state’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Plan. Telangana will become the 7th state in India to implement such a plan, joining six other states that have already adopted it. This key initiative aims to address the growing global challenge posed by AMR.
Damodar Rajanarsimha, Telangana’s Minister for Health and Family Welfare, will be the guest of honor at the event. The conference, organized by the Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI), the University of Hyderabad (UoH), and Pragyaan Sustainable Health Outcomes Foundation (PRASHO), aims to provide a platform for stakeholders from the Global South—countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America—to collaborate on infection control, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness.
At a press conference held in the city on Monday, Dr. Ranga Reddy Burri, President of IFCAI and Chair of G-SPARC, emphasized the critical need for action against AMR. He highlighted how the excessive use of antibiotics has led to a “slow pandemic” that silently threatens healthcare systems worldwide. “COVID-19 had a beginning and an end, but AMR is an ongoing crisis that already claims 5 million lives globally, with millions more at risk,” he warned.
R. Govind Hari, Chairman of PRASHO and Co-chair of the event, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of South-South cooperation in tackling AMR, which disproportionately impacts developing nations.
Notable speakers at G-SPARC 2024 will include Dr. Anuj Sharma from the WHO India Office, Professor Chedly Azzouz, Chairperson of the Infection Control Africa Network, and Dr. Atul Goel, Director of the National Centre for Disease Control.
Over 1,600 delegates are expected to attend the event, which will also feature the release of an AMR action plan by the Telangana state government. A white paper on pandemic preparedness and the prevention of future health crises will be unveiled at the conclusion of the conference.
In recognition of the significance of the conference, the Government of Telangana has sponsored the venue, Shilpakala Vedika.
