Thailand has an alarmingly high fatality rate due to antibiotic resistance derived from over-prescription and a widespread presence of the drugs in the food and water supply, according to research by Niyada Kiatying-Angsulee, manager of the Drug System Monitoring Mechanism Development Centre.
The issue often is overlooked because the cause of death is often listed as something else, Niyada's research revealed.
This is the main issue taken up by director Teerawat Mulvilai for B-Floor Theatre's ongoing puppet show Fishy Clouds, which will be performed this weekend at Democrazy Theatre Studio.
Teerawat was first approached by Dr Phaik Yeong Cheah, associate professor at Oxford University and head of Bioethics and Engagement at the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit at Mahidol University's Faculty of Tropical Medicine. The project is to raise awareness among the public regarding the issue through the language of performing art.
This is the second time his performance has been funded by Wellcome Trust Provision for the Public Engagement Award after the Survival Games from three years ago, which addressed tropical diseases like malaria.
"This performance talks about the widespread abuse of antibiotics," said Teerawat. "The consequence is a resistance to the drug. It is believed that in the future it will get to the point where the drug won't be able to cure anymore."
Teerawat said that the issue is not just about over-prescription but the prevalence of it in agricultural products as some fertilisers are comprised of antibiotics, or in the water supply as the drug is used in treating fish.
"Puppetry is apt because the production is mobile, convenient for touring and it's quite easy for the general public to understand," said Teerawat. "The puppets represent human beings, and we can manipulate them into whatever we want. It's very interesting to come up with ways they can express themselves differently from how actors usually do."
Teerawat's research process includes interviews with doctors, medical researchers and also first-hand interaction with pharmacists and with people in the agricultural field.
The performance tells a story of lead character Don who relies heavily on medicine. Through character development, we follow the route as to how antibiotics are spread throughout the entire ecosystem.
The show also addresses the research and experimental process for children's medicine in general, not just antibiotics.
The process requires the participation of children, and even though tests are usually non-invasive, the word "experiment" scares most of the parents off. Consequently, the quality of medicine for children hasn't advanced as much as it should have in the 21st century, and one of the show's objectives is to create a better understand of the issue.
Fishy Clouds will be staged on Saturday and Sunday at Democrazy Theatre Studio at 3pm. Free admission. For reservations, call 094-494-5104 or email: bfloortheatre@gmail.com. The performance will later be staged in Mae Sot district, Tak province, at Wattana Village Resort on Dec 12, Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) Wang Pa Clinic on Dec 13 and Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) Mawker Thai Clinic on Dec 14.