Awareness activities conducted on World Asthma Day 2022 at AIIMS, Bilaspur
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Bilaspur, May 04 – World Asthma Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness of Asthma worldwide. The day was first started by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a WHO collaborative organization founded in 1993 and since then, it is being celebrated each year on First Tuesday of May. Every year, a particular theme is being chosen by GINA to address the most important aspect in asthma care and management. The theme- ‘Closing Gaps in Asthma care’ has been chosen for year 2022. The day has been dedicated to increase awareness about the medical issues that the patients with asthma face and to encourage equal access to diagnosis and treatment.
The Department of Pediatrics at AIIMS, Bilaspur had conducted various academic and awareness activities within the hospital campus on 4th May, 2022 to mark the World Asthma Day. The Poster making Competition on this year’s theme was organized involving the undergraduate students. The MBBS students actively participated in the competition reflecting their creativity and logic thinking. The first, second and third positions in the poster making competition were secured by Srijan, Sagarika and Rashmeet respectively. Prof Sanjay Vikrant, Dean (Academics), Dr. Meenal Madhukar Thakre, Department of Community and Family Medicine and Dr Ajay Jaryal, Department of General Medicine, AIIMS, Bilaspur gave prizes to the first 3 winners of the competition. The parents of the children with asthma were sensitized regarding various aspects of diagnosis and long-term treatment of asthma as well as early recognition and home management of acute attacks of asthma. The use of inhalers and adherence to the treatment was emphasized with demonstration of proper technique. The lung function of these children was also assessed with spirometry equipment free of charge during the event.
Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease affecting 12.4 million children across the globe as per WHO Report 2021. Asthma is a condition in which there is a narrowing of airways due to swelling of mucosa. It causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough that vary over time in occurrence, frequency and intensity and may be more severe at night. Although asthma cannot be cured permanently, it can be controlled to a larger extent with appropriate use of inhaler medications and allow children with asthma to lead a normal, active life. Avoiding asthma triggers can also help to reduce asthma symptoms.
