Witbank Management Area inmates are now better informed on the use of antibiotics as information was brought to their centres.
The Antibiotic Awareness Week was held from November 16 to 20 and pharmacist Ms Pinky Mbatha and her team conducted the antibiotic’s awareness sessions at Witbank Correctional Centre on Wednesday, November 18 and Friday 20 to ensure that they reach as many inmates as possible.
“Break the chain of infection!” she preached throughout.
The team started each session by informing inmates what antibiotics are and what they are primarily used for.
Community service pharmacist Ms Nomfundo Biyela taught the inmates about the different types of germs and parasites that cause illness.
She indicated that people are the carriers of germs and parasites, and they get those; from drinking contaminated water, handling unwashed food and soil.
She also stressed that transmission of these germs is through the air, open wounds and cuts, the nose and mouth and also through breathing one can inhale germs such as bacteria, fungi and some viruses.
Pharmacy assistant Ms Jabulile Nkosi reiterated the importance of washing hands clean.
She stated that one’s hands contain three thousand germs that can cause sickness such as diarrhoea and Hepatitis A to name a few.
Ms Mbatha cautioned inmates that people with low immune systems, the elderly and those who live in poor hygienic environments are at more risk of getting sick from these germs.
She advised all to wash their hands thoroughly, practice good hygiene to prevent Covid-19, and continue to wear their masks.
She repeatedly warned against the misuse of antibiotics saying that people have become so used to taking antibiotics even for illnesses not treated by antibiotics.
This habit is fatal she indicated, “It is now more difficult to cure people who are sick due to the resistance caused by the misuse of antibiotics. People do not finish their course and this leads to the viruses studying the codes of the bacteria and becoming more resistant in the future.”
She also encouraged officials who were on duty to ensure that they immunize their kids timeously.
Inmates appreciated the sessions and indicated that they would take responsibility for their health henceforth.
