Superheroes against Superbugs (SaS) is an inspirational project run by a volunteer team of scientists and healthcare professionals in Hyderabad. They teach young people about superbugs through activities that are hands-on, creative, and fun! Following a series of popular workshops that were piloted in Hyderabad and were taken to other cities in India with the help of volunteers. They’re now hoping to reach thousands more children across India by making the project available online. But to do that, they need a hand…
Superbugs are a big problem in India, with drug-resistant infections killing more people there than anywhere else in the world. Among the most vulnerable are infants, with an estimated 58,000 dying every year. The reasons for the high levels of resistance are complex, but are likely to include environmental pollution from antibiotic manufacturing, and over-the-counter sales of antibiotics from community pharmacies.
SaS is led by three scientist turned science communication/Engagement professionals Dr Ponnari Gottipati, Dr Sarah Iqbal and Dr Somdatta Karak. The team provide various formats of free workshops that focus on the scientific concepts linked to microbes, infections, antibiotics and resistance through games and activities – before encouraging participants to reflect on antibiotic use in their own families and communities.
Once equipped with knowledge and understanding, students are encouraged to design and make their own art work, through different mediums, most popular being the comic books, a process Ponnari says can be life-changing:
While the team are doing a great job, COVID has made physical workshops difficult to run. That’s why they’re looking for help to:
We’re desperate to help SaS reach more children. It’s a great project, run by passionate local professionals, who are making a genuine attempt to address the issue of superbugs in India. That’s why we’re looking for people who can volunteer their time and experience to help them out. If you have skills in the following areas and can spare few hours a month, let us know and we’ll be in touch with more details: