The Consultant Pulmonologist and Deputy-Director of Clinical Services, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Oluwafemi Ojo, has called for increased public understanding of Asthma symptoms and improved treatment for patients.
Ojo made the call during the World Asthma Day programme organised by the Respiratory Unit of LASUTH in collaboration with Ikeja Local Government Area on Tuesday in Lagos.
World Asthma Day is commemorated on the first Tuesday in May to promote awareness about asthma and the importance of properly managing the chronic respiratory condition.
This year’s theme, “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”, emphasises the need to ensure that people with asthma can access inhaled medications that are essential for controlling the underlying disease and treating attacks.
Ojo said asthma impacts negatively on the physical, socio-economic, and emotional health of person’s with the condition and their families.
According to him, asthma affects more than 300 million people globally, and is responsible for over 450,000 deaths each year worldwide.
The pulmonologist said that over 20 million people are affected by asthma in Nigeria.
Ojo noted that asthma is a major issue in Nigeria because of inadequate access to inhalers arising from high costs and unavailability of the medicine.
He attributed the exit of some pharmaceutical companies as factors driving the high cost of inhalers in the country.
He urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for local pharmaceutical companies to produce inhalers.
This, Ojo said, would reduce the cost of production and the need to use foreign exchange to import inhalers.
He emphasised that inhalers should be enlisted as part of essential medicine and ensure its access for asthmatic persons through health insurance coverage.
“If this is covered, then the access to the medicines becomes easier for most of our patients, so coverage in the insurance scheme for low-income earners is very important,” he said.
The pulmonologist appealed to healthcare physicians that the era of depending on short-acting beta-2 agonists, such as Sabutomol, as a primary treatment for asthma has passed.
“Because this is not really addressing the underlying problem, which is inflammation.
“So, globally, the trend is to actually use inhaled corticosteroids medications that have steroids to drive down inflammation in the airway.
“Once we’re able to drive down inflammation, then the risk of having exacerbations or recurrent attacks will be significantly reduced,” he said.
Short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABAs) are a type of bronchodilator medication used to quickly relieve asthma or COPD symptoms by relaxing the muscles in the airways, allowing for easier breathing.
He also called for inter-sectoral collaborations in terms of research to improve asthma treatment.
Ojo advised patients to avoid exposure to asthma triggers, work closely with their physicians and ensure compliance to their medications to enhance treatment outcomes.
He emphasised that educating the public about the disease, its triggers and impacts on daily lives would assist to reduce morbidity and mortality from the disease.
“That’s why we’re out today to advocate better care, better access for our patients, so that we’ll be able to have better control to prevent high mortality in our own environment.
“Our target is to conduct 100 free lung function tests, however, we’ve seen over 100 persons and more are still coming.
“Also to give some of them free inhalers to start them on medication and give them access to us in the teaching hospital to follow up with their asthma treatment,” he said.
Similarly, the Director of Pharmacy, LASUTH, Dr Oluwatoyin Ojo said effective asthma management, including medication, lifestyle changes, and access to healthcare, is crucial to improve quality of life for individuals with asthma.
She said that inhaled corticosteroid-containing medications in addition to reliever medication, are prescribed to prevent the continuing avoidable morbidity and mortality from asthma.
Ojo said pharmacists play a critical role in asthma management by educating patients about their condition, medications, and inhaler techniques, as well as promoting adherence to treatment plans and addressing concerns about potential side effects.
The programme featured advocacy health walk, asthma and inhaler use education, and free lung function testing, among others.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), asthma is a major non-communicable disease (NCD), affecting both children and adults, and is the most common chronic disease among children.
Inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs cause asthma symptoms, which can be any combination of cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
WHO says inhaled medication can control asthma symptoms and allow patients to live a normal, active life.
NAN
