Elias Nelson Oyedokun was a vibrant creative and energetic child. Though he had suffered from asthma for most of his life, he never allowed the ailment to hold him back. He loved to play and have fun like most kids his age. Unfortunately, at the age of 13, he passed away after an asthma attack.

 

Asthma has been recognised by world health experts as an incurable ailment but with proper treatment and control, a person with the ailment can live a normal life. That is why an annual event organised on the first Tuesday of each May by the Global Initiative For Asthma (GINA) is instituted to improve its awareness and care around the world. This year’s celebration of the day took place worldwide on May 7 and the theme is, ‘You can control your asthma’. However, for 2013, GINA has also introduced a sub-theme, “It’s time to control Asthma” to sensitise the world to join hands in creating awareness on ways the illness can be controlled both by the sufferers and those around them, particularly the parents and care givers.

 

It is on this bedrock that Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation (ENOF) was established last year by the Ilaka family in honour of their son that passed away following an asthma attack. Through ENOF, they want to prevent the premature loss of lives by training health care providers in schools, clinics and hospitals on how to deal with asthma and at the same time act as a resource and information hub.

 

In a symposium on asthma organised by ENOF to mark this year’s World Asthma Day, held at Bellus Court Event Centre in Ilupeju Lagos, the founder of the organisation and the mother of the late Elias, Mrs Lola Ilaka, restated her organisation’s resolve to play an active role in ensuring that more awareness is created about the ailment in the country and also to provide the necessary information on how to prevent its attacks as much as possible. “Whilst currently there is no cure for asthma, our focus in ENOF is the curtailing of unnecessary asthma attacks and needless hospital admission. I was devastated when my son died from the attack and I will like to be a part of those who ensure that no child dies again due to lack of information on ways this illness can be managed and controlled so that it does not escalate in death. Part of our mandate is patient activism. The need for constant dialogue between patients and the pharmaceutical companies cannot be overestimated. That is why we brought resource persons from these companies and also medical experts to speak on ways this ailment can be effectively managed,” she said.

 

Delivering a keynote address at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Heath, Dr Jide Idris, who was represented by Dr Longe said, “The importance of controlling asthma cannot be over-emphasised. Poor asthma control is also seen in the lifetime limitations experienced by some people with it such as irregular school attendance by affected children. Its deaths are the ultimate tragic evidence of uncontrolled asthma and these are mostly preventable if control measures are effectively instituted.”

 

The Lagos State commissioner for health gave the statistics of asthma incidence worldwide. “An estimated 300 million people worldwide now have asthma according to Global Burden of Asthma Report, a compilation of published data on the prevalence and impact of asthma around the world. Children constitute a reasonable percentage of those afflicted. The report also documents that the prevalence of asthma is increasing throughout the world, especially as communities adopt western lifestyles and become urbanised. This is of great relevance to Nigeria and especially Lagos which is presently undergoing an economic transition. It is estimated that there may be an additional 100 million persons worldwide with asthma by 2025 and the developing world may disproportionally contribute to this increase. Independent studies of occupational asthma have also shown that up to 20 per cent of the workforce may become asthmatic if exposed to sensitisers,” he emphasised.

 

 

In a lecture at the symposium, the Medical Director of Massey Children’s Hospital Lagos Island, Dr. Emokpae, explained what causes asthma and ways it can be controlled. “Asthma is a chronic illness that affects the airways, which are the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. These airways can react badly when you have a cold or other viral infection when you come into contact with an asthma trigger. Symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath,” he explained.

 

The medical expert listed some of the things that could trigger an asthmatic attack. “A trigger is anything that irritates the airways and causes the symptoms of the ailment. Common triggers include environmental pollution and certain food the sufferer is allergic to. Strenuous exercise and emotions such as anger and violence can also trigger an attack. I see a lot of parents using menthol on asthmatic patients and it is very wrong as this could also upset the airways. Mosquito repellents should also be used on a minimal level where an asthmatic patient lives and their room should be properly ventilated so that they can breathe easily, especially at night.

 

Everyone’s asthma is different and you will probably find out you have several triggers. It is important you identify them on time so as to avoid coming in contact with them as much as you can,” Dr. Emokpae added. Professor Renner, a retired professor of Paediatrics, University of Lagos, speaking also at the ENOF symposium, buttressed this point by decrying that environmental pollution coming from generator fumes is one of the banes of asthma attack in most people in Nigeria. “The use of generator in Nigerian homes today has caused more harm than good, especially in the life of people with asthma.

 

The fumes coming out of them contribute in triggering asthma attacks and we call on the government to do something urgently concerning generating enough power for the country and eliminate the use of generators in Nigerian homes,” he decried. The don further called on mothers of children with asthma not to be in denial but to come to terms with the fact that their children have asthma and to also know that it is not a death sentence.

 

“Parents with children that have asthma should stop living in denial. It is very important they identify it on time so we can help them to manage it. It is important to say that if you have asthma, you are not alone. More than ten million people in Nigeria have asthma. But don’t worry, with the correct treatment, support and advice, most people with asthma can lead full and active lives,” he said. In explaining how asthma can be treated, Dr. Emokpae said “asthma cannot be “cured” but with the correct treatment, monitoring and avoiding triggers, it can be controlled. There are two main kinds of asthma treatment: preventers and relievers.

 

The relievers usually come in blue inhalers. You need to take them as soon as asthma symptoms start. They work by quickly relaxing the muscles that surround the airways, making it easier to breathe while the preventers usually come in brown, white, red or orange inhalers. Sometimes they come in tablet form. They work over a period of time to calm inflammation of the airways and make them less likely to react badly when you come across an asthma trigger. They need to be taken every day, even if you are feeling well to give full protection,” he advised.

 

In the prevention of asthmatic attacks, the experts emphasised on the need to identify those things that trigger your asthma and avoid them as much as possible. They also advised that an asthma patient uses a peak flow meter and a diary which will help the person know how well the ailment is controlled and can give you advance warning of worsening symptoms. You should also have written personal asthma action plan that sets out which medicines to take and when. Also ensure you have a close consultation with your physician to ensure maximum control of your asthma.

 

By VANESSA OKWARA

NATIONAL MIRROR