A months-long asthma sensitisation project targeting educational institutions in The Gambia ended recently, with a leading advocacy group calling on society to be sensitive to the plight of people living with asthma.
The President of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of West Africa (AAFWA), Sheku Wai, told this medium that the Asthma School Educational Awareness Campaign, partially sponsored by the Global Airways and Allergy Platform (GAAPP), was designed to improve asthma outcomes in The Gambia through asthma education specifically targeting educational institutions in the country and making them asthma-friendly.
“The campaign explained everything about asthma, such as prevention, management and control, to asthma patients, education providers, schools, parents/guardians of asthma patients, etc., thus helping them to have adequate knowledge of the disease,” he explained. “Schools were also instructed on how to become free of asthma triggers, leading to a significant reduction in asthma attacks and deaths resulting from asthma.”
Mr Wai said they also encouraged children living with asthma to believe in themselves, that they have a normal life and capable of fulfilling their potentials, adding that they enlightened other pupils to understand that it is wrong to discriminate against their mates that have asthma.
The AAFWA president disclosed that among the key focus of the sensitization was debunking myths that prevent patients from seeking help. “Community awareness is vital to reducing the stigma often associated with chronic respiratory diseases,” he stated.
While the project celebrated improved awareness, Wai emphasised that the battle is not yet over, pointing out that while inhaled corticosteroids remain the cornerstone of management, they are still out of reach for many asthma patients. He then appealed to philanthropists to consider asthma patients in their programmes.
Mr Wai appreciated GAAPP for its collaboration with AAFWA, and commended DHK Global Trading and Kaira Consultancy for their contribution.
