Mr Ugo Nwangoro, Secretary, GAAPP Board of Directors, and also the Founder and Coordinator of the Asthma Relief Campaign Project (ASMARCAP), who recently visited The Gambia, told journalists that he is touched by the plight of asthma patients in the country.
“I discussed with some of the coordinators of the patient organisations in The Gambia. I was also introduced to some asthma patients and discovered that most of them are distressed. Many cannot even afford inhalers, which happen to be the first aid tool during asthma attacks. This moved me to donate inhalers to some of them.”
He stressed that asthma is a non-communicable disease and explained that it is actually a malfunction of a hormone in the body that causes the hormone to overreact on exposure to certain factors, which include smoke, fumes, dust, pesticides, and strong smell.
He further urged people to try as much as possible to assist asthma patients whenever they need assistance, especially when they find them having difficulty in breathing.
The GAAPP Board member appealed to corporate bodies in The Gambia to channel some of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to people living with asthma and other respiratory diseases, and try as much as possible to help asthma organisations whenever they approach them for support.
“They [corporate] organisations should understand that asthma is a general health problem all over the world, and so should try to support and sponsor the education of the patients, as an educated asthma patient can manage him/herself very well.” he stated.
He assured that GAAPP is ready to collaborate with any corporate organisation willing to engage in sustained support and sponsor of asthma patients in The Gambia.
Mr Nwangoro urged the Government of The Gambia to declare asthma and other respiratory diseases as a national health emergency so that they can attract funding from international organisations.
He then encouraged people living with allergy, asthma or other respiratory diseases in The Gambia, assuring them that help is on the way.
“My advice to asthma patients in The Gambia is for them to be aware that help has come to them through GAAPP’s partnership with some of the major asthma organisations in The Gambia. GAAPP found out there is a vacuum in asthma care in this country and will do all it can to support them.”
Activities
While in The Gambia, Mr Nwangoro visited the offices of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of West Africa (AAFWA) in Latrikunda Sabiji, where he held discussions with the President/CEO, Mr Sheku Wai and some officers of the Foundation, and donated copies of the asthma management handbook to AAFWA. He also met with other GAAPP affiliate organisations in the country.
He also visited Light of the World Preparatory School in Julakunda, Latrikunda Sabiji, accompanied by Mr Sheku Wai. The ECE center is among the educational institutions where AAFWA is piloting its Asthma-Friendly Schools Programme. The GAAPP Board member seized the opportunity to lecture the teachers, pupils living with asthma and a parent, on how to manage asthma. He also magnanimously gave out inhalers free to pupils living with asthma. He further donated one inhaler and some asthma handbooks to the school.
About GAAPP
Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP) is a dynamic umbrella organisation, a vibrant worldwide entity with over 100 constituent members across all continents. GAAPP serves as a global force, uniting patients, healthcare professionals and organisations dedicated to allergies, airways, and atopic diseases. GAAPP envisions a world where individuals with allergies, airways and atopic diseases lead fulfilling lives. GAAPP’s mission is to globally support and empower patients; their objectives are built upon four pillars: Awareness, Education, Advocacy and Research.
