Pakistan marked World Asthma Day on Tuesday with several national events and activities aimed at raising public awareness about the disease and its treatment.
The theme of this year’s event, ‘Empowering Asthma Education’, emphasizes the importance of educating people with asthma on how to manage their disease.
Hospitals and health organizations around Pakistan are holding free screenings, lung function tests and awareness campaigns on World Asthma Day to celebrate the chronic respiratory condition, which affects more than 340 million people worldwide.
Social media has been used by medical professionals to provide resources and information and to call people to health care if they have asthma symptoms.
Asthma affects around 15 million people in Pakistan, Dr Azhar Khan, a pulmonologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, said there is a need to raise awareness and educate about the disease.
An awareness drive about asthma, its care and treatment is organized in Islamabad to educate the public and provide them with the knowledge they need to manage their disease and lead a healthy life.
Dr. Waqas Rasheed, Chief Chest Physician, addressing the gathering, said that more than 12% of students in Pakistan are suffering from asthma. He said that some people in our culture see asthma as a contagious disease and don’t get it.
To mark the occasion, the Department of Pulmonology, Nishtar Medical University (NMU) organized an awareness rally and lecture in Multan.
Dr. Azam Mushtaq, Director, Department of Pulmonology, was attended by medical professionals, nurses and students. There are posters that provide information on the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of asthma.
Experts emphasize the need to see an experienced doctor as soon as symptoms appear to prevent complications.
They noted that people with asthma can live a normal life if they receive the right treatment, and stressed the importance of taking medication on time to keep the disease under control.
Asthma sufferers living in Sargodha area are given free lung test and medicines with specialist Dr. Sikandar Hayat Warraich.
dr. Warreich noted the challenges allergy and asthma sufferers face during wheat harvest when the air quality index exceeds 170.
