Pakistan observed World Asthma Day on Tuesday, marking the occasion with several national events and activities aimed at increasing public awareness of the illness and its treatment.
This year’s observance’s theme was “Asthma Education Empowers,” emphasizing the value of teaching asthmatic people how to properly manage their illness.
Hospitals and health organizations around Pakistan held free screenings, lung function testing, and awareness campaigns on World Asthma Day in observance of the chronic respiratory condition that affects over 340 million people worldwide.
Social media was utilized by medical experts to provide resources and information and to urge people in the direction of healthcare if they were having asthmatic symptoms.
During a lecture, Dr. Azhar Khan, a pulmonologist at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, stated that asthma affects around 15 million people in Pakistan, underscoring the need to raise awareness and provide education on the disease.
“Asthma is a treatable condition, but it requires proper management and treatment,” he asserted.
A walk for awareness about asthma, its care, and treatment was also organized in Islamabad to educate the public and provide them with the knowledge they need to manage their illness and lead healthy lives.
Speaking with the rally, Senior Consultant Chest Physician Dr. Waqas Rasheed stated that over 12% of students in Pakistan suffer from asthma. He added that some people in our culture view asthma as a communicable disease and avoid the company of those who have it.
To mark the occasion, the Nishtar Medical University (NMU) Department of Pulmonology held an awareness walk and lecture in Multan.
Medical experts, nurses, and students participated in the walk, which was led by Dr. Azam Mushtaq, Head of the Pulmonology Department. They held placards that provided information on the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of asthma.
Experts stressed that to avoid problems, it is imperative to see an experienced physician as soon as symptoms appear.
They stressed that people with asthma may live normal lives if they receive the right treatment, and they emphasized the significance of taking medications on time to control the illness.
People with asthma living in the Sargodha area were given free examinations by specialist Dr Sikandar Hayat Warraich, along with free lung tests and medicine.
Dr. Warraich highlighted the difficulties that patients with allergies and asthma encounter during the present wheat harvesting season, which has resulted in an air quality index higher than 170.
