World Asthma Day
Overview:
World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma in particular and local stakeholders in general to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. Asthma is a chronic disease affecting the patient’s lungs, and one of the most common chronic diseases in children, but adults can have asthma, too.
Key Facts:
- Asthma is a chronic inflammation of bronchitis causing coughing, breathlessness, chest tightness, repeated wheezing during sleep, coughing at night or early in the morning.
- There is no cure for asthma that can be managed by avoiding triggers, such as allergens and irritants, and getting rid of them to avoid irritation and contracting the asthma.
- The prevalence of asthma is higher in children than in adults, and higher in females than males.
- The chronic disease is most common among children.
- Asthma is often a genetic disease.
- Whether conditions can aggravate the condition of asthma, such as very dry, wet, or stormy weather.
- Patient must see the doctor and continue taking medications as per his directives to control the disease and help the lungs do their functions normally.
Statistics:
As per asthma patients and their families guide issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH), as part of the national program to combat asthma 2016:
- There are more than 300 million people suffer from asthma worldwide. It causes the death of one person out of 250 deaths around the world.
- The prevalence of asthma in the Kingdom’s regions ranges between 15-25%.
Objectives of World Asthma Day:
- Raising awareness about Asthma and its general health consequences.
- Promoting knowledge and determining causes of increased asthma prevalence.
- Promoting studies of relations between asthma and environment.
- Reducing the risk of asthma.
- Improving disease management.
- Improving availability and accessibility of effective asthma treatment.
Official Date:
Globally: May 2nd
AHO Strategy for Prevention and Control of Asthma:
AHO recognizes that asthma is of major public health importance. The Organization plays a role in coordinating international efforts against the disease. The aim of its strategy is to support Member States in their efforts to reduce the disability and premature death related to asthma.
Objectives of AHO Program:
- Surveillance to map the magnitude of asthma, analyze its determinants and monitor trends, with emphasis on poor and disadvantaged populations;
- Primary prevention to reduce the level of exposure to common risk factors, particularly tobacco smoke, frequent lower respiratory infections during childhood, and air pollution (indoor, outdoor, and occupational exposure); and
- Improving access to cost-effective interventions including medicines, upgrading standards and accessibility of care at different levels of the health care system.
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