World Asthma Day Observed in Nepal Amid Rising Risks

Kathmandu. Today, World Asthma Day is being celebrated with various programs under the theme 'Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for all with asthma - a major need at present'.

On the occasion of the day, according to statistics released by Director Dr. Anuj Bhattachan of the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, it has been found that about six to eight percent of people in Nepal are affected by asthma.

According to him, the risk of asthma is continuously increasing due to rapid urbanization, increasing air pollution, and seasonal and climate change in Nepal. He stated that asthma affects people of all age groups, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that about 26 to 30 crore people worldwide are affected by asthma. Asthma causes limitations in physical activity, sleep problems, and continuous fatigue.

He stated that many patients do not receive adequate treatment because asthma is still underdiagnosed. Due to the low availability or excessively high cost of basic asthma treatment materials in health institutions, especially inhaled corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) inhalers, it has been found that about 96 percent of asthma-related deaths worldwide occur in middle-income countries like ours.

"There is still a tendency to rely more on oral or injectable medications instead of inhalers, which are not always effective. Therefore, there is a risk of increased complications due to delayed treatment and lack of necessary medicines," he said.