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Circus arts shine spotlight on AMR in Cambodian communities

In May 2025, circus performances were used to educate Cambodian youth on the correct use of antibiotics. Misuse of antibiotics is a major driver of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide. The wide availability of antibiotics over the counter in Cambodia and linguistic issues make it difficult for younger Cambodians to understand when antibiotic use is appropriate.

Antibiotic versus superbug! Phare circus members demonstrate how antibiotics fight drug-resistant superbugs in a performance at Battambang in May 2025. © MORU 2025. Photo: Nicky Almasy.
Phare circus members demonstrate how antibiotics fight drug-resistant superbugs in a performance at Battambang in May 2025.

Involving circus arts, storytelling and social media, the performances aimed to improve Cambodian youth’s awareness of the problem of AMR and its causes. Funded by a bursary from MORU Bioethics, the project is related to MORU’s ongoing research on AMR in Cambodia. the performances were part of a package of educational activities developed by MORU and the Cambodia-Oxford Medical Research Unit (COMRU) who teamed up with the Cambodian Ministry of Health (MoH), Action for Health Development (AHEAD), and Phare Ponleu Selpak to educate Cambodian school children and youth groups on the correct use of antibiotics.

Delivered in Battambang on 19-20 May and Siem Reap on 22-23 May, the circus performances were extremely well received by a total audience of >1,200. Subsequent social media posts have been viewed >360,000 times to date. Next steps are to complete an educational video based on the circus performance and work with Cambodia MoH colleagues to integrate this into national AMR awareness activities.  

- Text: Paul Turner.

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