Foundation starts campaign to spread awareness about asthma, prevention

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Asthma Foundation yesterday launched a campaign to create awareness on the disease -- a medical condition of the chest that makes breathing difficult -- so people would take measures to prevent themselves against it.

The inauguration was coloured by the Aga Khan Primary School pupils who helped to fix stickers carrying asthma messages on vehicles.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign, TAF chairperson Amina Plummer, said there were many Tanzanians dying from asthma mainly due to lack of awareness and superstitious beliefs. “We first want to start with prevention education so as to raise awareness,” she noted.

For her part, Dr Joan Rugemalila, from the Muhimbili National Hospital, said the trend of asthma has been increasing due to global climatic changes which affect the environment, citing increasing numbers of factories that emit harmful gases that in turn cause air pollution.

According to data available at Muhimbili, 5.2 per cent of children aged five to fourteen are the most affected group, whereby some of them die while undergoing treatment.

“The global climatic changes and environmental degradation are among factors contributing to the allege, which normally tends to affect the breathing system, hence people suffer from asthma,” she said.

She noted that the disease can be caused by types of food, cosmetics, dust and items made of wool.

Ms Plummer who is also the founder of the foundation urged the government to establish special clinics because the asthma treatment needs quick service.

“I have been a victim of asthma for 25 years, therefore, I know the in and out of the ailment. I would like call the government to build special clinics and equip them well,” she said.

Ms Ramadevi Sankaran, Aga Khan Primary School teacher noted that the community should positively respond to the initiative to help people to understand the impacts of the disease to the society and suggest the way to address it.