Asthma cases on the rise

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

The number of asthma patients showing up at the island's public health facilities continues to spiral.

Some 19,647 cases of asthma were seen in primary health-care facilities in 2008. Additionally, there were 55,572 visits to accident and emergency departments for asthma in that year compared with 41,858 in 2007, representing an overall increase of 32.8 per cent.

The total hospital discharges for asthma in 2008 were 2,185 cases and a total of 1,418 cases of asthma were seen in public outpatient departments, where 100 clinics were held.

Because of this significant hike, Lasco Distributors Limited has sought to ease the burden of the health sector by donating 700 masks and 400 spacers valued at $670,000, at a handover ceremony yesterday, at the Ministry of Health, downtown Kingston.

These devices help to ensure that the prescribed inhaled medication reaches the lungs in order to alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer said the much-needed assistance will go a far way in helping to control asthma in a number of patients, especially children, who visit public health facilities.

He said the donation is particularly important because asthma is one of the commonest illnesses that affect both the adult and child population in Jamaica, and is the leading cause of hospitalisation among children under five years old.

Spencer added that it is especially relevant with the observance of World Asthma Day, which was celebrated yesterday, under the theme 'You Can Control Your Asthma'.

better management

"These masks and spacers will allow better management of persons with asthma and more efficient distribution of medication to alleviate the symptoms of the illness, which will speed up the recovery of patients. With this donation, many persons will be better able to control, their asthma," he declared.

The World Health Organisation estimates that, approximately 300 million people suffer from asthma globally.

While asthma remains a concern in all countries, regardless of their level of development, 80 per cent of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries like Jamaica.