European Antibiotic Awareness Day receives the European Health Award 2016
Today, the European Antibiotic Awareness Day received the European Health Award, a prize awarded each year by the European Health Forum Gastein.
The European Health Award honours initiatives aiming to improve public health or healthcare in Europe. It was established in 2007 to promote cross-border cooperation, multi-country working and the development of sustainable, innovative and transferable initiatives which address current challenges such as disparities in health status, access to services and the provision of treatment within Europe. This year, six cross-border health projects were short-listed for the European Health Award. The prize-winner was chosen by an independent panel of leading health experts.
ECDC Acting Director Dr. Andrea Ammon said:
This award is recognition that the European Antibiotic Awareness Day has made a significant contribution to raising awareness of prudent antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance as priorities for governments and health authorities across the European Union and beyond.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day is a health initiative coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which aims to provide a platform to support national campaigns on the prudent use of antibiotics. The goal of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day is to provide the participating countries with evidence-based tools, as well as technical and political support for their campaigns. In 2015, with the support of WHO/Europe, 41 European countries organised activities to mark the initiative. Participation has grown steadily since the first EAAD in 2008 to which 32 European countries participated. European Antibiotic Awareness Day partners with World Antibiotic Awareness Week.