Chijioke Iremeka Medical specialists say respiratory diseases continue to rise in the country, underscoring the necessity for the government to enhance its policies on respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis and asthma in Nigeria. They noted a reduction in the impact of tuberculosis recently, but expressed serious concern over the increasing severity of asthma, leading to fatalities. The physicians emphasised that Nigeria must undertake a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to alleviate the burden of these diseases.
This approach, they said, should combine governmental and individual policies with effective actions. According to the World Health Organisation, chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affect nearly half a billion people worldwide. The global health body said that these diseases are major causes of death and disability, with COPD being the third leading cause of death globally.
In 2019, the WHO noted that 3.2 million people died from COPD and 500,000 from asthma, saying that despite their significant impact, these diseases have often been overlooked in global health discussions, lacking the necessary recognition and resources. Respiratory experts who spoke with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews said that education would increase understanding of the condition for people living with asthma and their families, and empower them to manage their treatment.
Former President of the Thoracic Society of Nigeria,.