Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Combating AMR is the focus of this year's President's Charity, Antibiotic Research UK
Antibiotic Research UK is a charity devoted to raising awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among the public, governments and global authorities, promoting research into new ways to combat it and providing advice on treatment of infections. We are devoting some of our fundraising in this Rotary year from July 2023 to this cause. By the end of 2023 we shall have sent about £1500 to the charity, with more to come in 2024.
AMR is the process whereby bacteria, viruses and fungi become resistant to antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal drugs. It is increasing worldwide, and it is estimated that 1.25 million patients die each year because of it. This is expected to rise to 10 million by 2050. It is important to understand that it is the germs that become resistant to drugs, not people. Even those who have never taken antibiotics may still become seriously ill if they encounter resistant bacteria.
Resistant bacteria in particular threaten to return health care to an early 20th century state in which common infections can no longer be treated. As well as risking many lives from simple infections, it may also render impossible modern medical treatments such as orthopaedic surgery, cancer (especially leukaemia) management and transplants.
Overuse of antibiotics in the 80 years since they were first made available for clinical use is the main culprit. Patients came to expect them to be prescribed for minor infections such as sore throats and earache, which we now know are likely to resolve on their own. 'Broad-spectrum' antibiotics that kill a wider range of bacteria have been used inappropriately instead of those targeted at specific infections. They are also used in veterinary medicine. In agriculture they are often used solely to enhance growth, not treat specific infections. Although we do not ingest them in our food, they may still be around in our environment and enable the evolution of resistance.
Drug companies are reluctant to try to produce new antimicrobial drugs, because they are only taken in short courses and would need to be strictly reserved for resistant cases. The financial return does not compensate for the huge cost of development, testing and clinical trials. Governments have been slow to understand the potential impact of resistance and promote research.
At our 101st Anniversary Charter Night Dinner on 26 September we heard a sobering talk by Professor Chris Dowson of Warwick University, a leading expert on AMR. We hope that by raising awareness we may make a contribution to the fight against this threat.
Click here for more information about the Antibiotic Research UK charity
'What We Do' Main Pages:
The results of our annual competition - two of our local winners have also won at District level
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We have become one of only four Rotary Clubs to be awarded a Platinum Certificate, in recognition of donations to Shelterbox of £10,200 in 2022-3
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Several of our entrants last year had success at District level and one was a winner of the National final
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Our annual competition for budding artists - our entrants all won the second stage District Competition last year
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Our popular event for school choirs and their families & friends raised over £15,000 for local children's charities
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We organise two-day breaks at a National Trust site in N Norfolk for young people aged 12-15 who probably won't get any other holiday
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Our Junior Competition entrant has gone on to win at National Level. Our Intermediate Team won third prize in their group
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Past President John Martin uses his building skills to help the locals create a community centre for this deprived settlement in The Gambia, only a few miles from the luxurious tourist resorts on the coast
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We raised funds supporting Ukrainians both in Ukraine and in Cambridge & East Anglia from several events in 2022
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The East Anglian District and National Rotary Magazines feature the wide range of charitable and fellowship activities that Rotary Clubs enjoy
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We and our colleagues in the three other Cambridge clubs celebrated 100 years of Rotary service in 2022
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We are part of a worldwide movement of 46,000 Rotary clubs with a total of 1.4 million members. We enjoy a range of informal fellowship events while supporting local and international charities
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Cambridge Aid does great work in support of Cambridge residents in need. In 2019-21 we raised over £12,500 and we continue to support them
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RYLA offers an intensive 7-day course for 18-26 year-olds, helping them to develop as future leaders
moreA sample of our members' varied interests and significant contributions to the local community
moreA brief history of the Rotary Club of Cambridge together with some records which might be of interest to the wider audience
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