World Asthma Day today, access to anti-inflammatory inhalers stressed

Kathmandu, May 5: Today, World Asthma Day is being organised today by organising various programmes. The theme for the Day this year is "Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need".

According to data unveiled by the Director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Dr Anuj Bhattachan, around six to eight percent people in Nepal are affected by asthma and the risk of catching it has further increased with growing urbanisation, increasing air pollution, and weather and climate change.

Asthma affects people of all age groups, including children and adolescents.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around 260 to 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma which can lead to limitations in physical activities, sleep disorders, and continuous fatigue. 

It still remains a health issue that is often under- diagnosed, preventing many affected from accessing timely treatment. 

The low availability of basic equipment for asthma treatment, especially inhaled corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) inhaler in health institutions, high prices of such medication are the challenges for people with asthma. 

 Around 96 percent asthma-related deaths occur in middle-income countries like Nepal.  Likewise, instead of inhalers, the asthma management is often more based on oral and injectable medicines, which are not always effective in the control of asthma. 

Delayed treatment or the lack of timely availability of required medicines may increase the risk of complications from asthma. (RSS)