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Educating children on antimicrobial resistance
Naomi Bull
As vets, we’re often tasked with giving complicated medical information to owners in a way that they can clearly understand – sometimes easier said than done! But how about if you’re trying to reach an audience of schoolchildren to tell them about a tough global health problem, like antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? Time to get creative!
To tackle this challenge, a team of RVC researchers investigating AMR in livestock in Kenya and India collaborated with
local artists to create comic books for schoolchildren. The comics tell the exciting stories of a brother and sister who go
on an adventure to find out all about the resistant infection which has made their mother ill. This involves taking a sneak peek inside the body to see the bacteria and
the antibiotics battling, and a closer look
at how antibiotics can end up polluting the environment, increasing the risk of new resistance developing. Most importantly, the comics give clear messages about how everyone can use antibiotics carefully to help stop resistance spreading.
The team spent time testing different story ideas and illustration styles with the children to find out what was
most appealing. It turned out that the Indian schoolchildren wanted a thrilling superhero storyline, whilst the Kenyan groups were keen to make sure that the setting of the story and the appearance of the main characters captured their local context. Regardless, all the children were excited at the prospect of a comic created especially for them to teach them about a critical global health challenge.
Using comics is a fun and creative way
to engage a new, young audience on a really important issue. The team are now working to get the finished comics sent out to as many schools as possible, and they have already caught the attention of other groups keen to use similar methods to get young people interested in different public health issues. The team have really enjoyed the experience of sharing their scientific expertise with children and they’re now holding a series of live events on AMR in schools in the UK, building on everything they have learned so far.
There’s an old saying often bandied around in TV presenting circles: ‘never work with children or animals’. In fact, this project proves that working with both can be fun, rewarding and full of surprises!
#ParasiteTroopers
The Marketing and Communications team recently had the opportunity to provide some creative and promotional support
to a team of RVC researchers led by Professor Joanne Webster, Professor of Parasitic Diseases, Director of the Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED), and Associate Director of the London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research (LCNTR).
The team were planning a trip to Somalia as part of their research and education work on Schistosomiasis, a disease that affects both humans and animals across Africa.
Communication and education are an important aspect of the RVC’s work with young children a key audience. Working closely with Liz Hollenberg, the Marketing
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team designed a colouring book to act as a tool to help illustrate, inform and educate the communities about how Schistosomiasis spreads and how it affects both human and animal health and welfare.
The challenge was to design the illustrations, making them clear and
easy to colour-in as well as delivering the critical information. In the end two versions were made – one in French for the planned trip and one in English for future trips to other countries. Each book is supplied with a recycled cardboard tube of colouring pencils!
“Professor Webster’s team are doing brilliant work that can really make a difference to human and animal health and wellbeing, so it was great to be able to
do contribute to the project.” Said Sarah Ready, Director Of External Relations.