Tue Jun 17 15:46:37 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article, followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Kerala aims to become a completely antibiotic-literate state by December 2025. This initiative involves widespread awareness campaigns in hospitals and local institutions, ensuring antibiotics are dispensed only with prescriptions, and educating the public on proper disposal of unused medications to prevent environmental contamination. Despite past efforts, antibiotic resistance awareness remains at 40%, requiring increased engagement from the private healthcare sector and the general public to achieve the 100% literacy goal. The state is emphasizing the crucial role of rational antibiotic use in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a silent pandemic, by encouraging public to only consume antibiotics with a doctor’s prescription.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Races Towards Antibiotic Literacy Deadline Amidst Rising Antimicrobial Resistance Concerns**

*Thiruvananthapuram, June 17, 2025* – The state of Kerala is intensifying its efforts to meet its ambitious goal of becoming fully antibiotic-literate by December 2025. Health Minister Veena George announced plans to ramp up awareness campaigns across hospitals and local self-government institutions (LSGIs), ensuring that antibiotics are only dispensed with valid prescriptions.

The announcement followed the release of a booklet highlighting the Health Department’s initiatives during World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week in November 2024. Previous efforts saw participation from hundreds of LSGIs, hospitals, educational institutions, and pharmacies in AMR awareness programs.

The “Antibiotic Literate Kerala” campaign will educate the public on preventing antibiotic residues in water and food, advocating for antibiotic use only as prescribed by doctors. A key focus will be on the safe disposal of expired or unused antibiotics, utilizing the state’s nPROUD initiative to prevent environmental pollution.

Despite these efforts, studies show that AMR awareness remains at approximately 40% in the state. A significant challenge lies in increasing engagement from the private healthcare sector. Professional medical associations, including the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Association of Physicians of India, and the Indian Medical Association, have pledged to prioritize private sector involvement.

Health officials emphasize that AMR poses a “silent pandemic” and that responsible antibiotic use is crucial to prevent the development of drug-resistant infections. The Health Department urges the public to only buy and consume antibiotics with a doctor’s prescription and to complete the full course of treatment as instructed. With just over six months left, Kerala is doubling down on its commitment to combat AMR and promote responsible antibiotic use across all sectors of society.

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