Bronchial Asthma: A Public

Health Problem Needs a

Public Health Response
Chakaya JM

Asthma Webinar, April 26, 2016 l

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

The Burden of Asthma

A very common disease

350 million people affected globally
A chronic persistent incurable disease

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Bronchial Asthma
Most often
Under-diagnosed
Undertreated when diagnosed

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Bronchial Asthma
Not a minor illness: It has many consequences

Social
Psychological
Economic
Physical
Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Bronchial Asthma
The consequences
Magnified in the poor
and vulnerable
Double tragedy for
the poor: severer
disease/Least able to
cope
Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Asthma
Easy to diagnose
Equally easy to treat
The under diagnosis /undertreatment are largely due to
neglect
Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Bronchial Asthma Diagnosis

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Asthma Treatment

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

What needs to be done?

The Goal
Improve access to and quality of
asthma care for all People with asthma
including the poor and vulnerable
Help Most Asthma patients achieve
control at the least possible cost

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Stop the Asthma- Poverty Loop

Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

The Elements of the Public

Health Approach
Unraveling the epidemiologic triangle of Asthma
( host , environment and agents)
Preventing Asthma
Choosing Interventions and approaches: active
versus passive
Identifying Multiple Targets
Identifying Effective Strategies
Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

The public health response

Aims
Creating and sustaining public awareness
Evolving and implementing a basic package of
care to reach many
Training and retraining of health care providers
Providing essential medicines and equipment
for asthma
Evolving and implementing an asthma
surveillance system
Evolving and implementing an asthma
research agenda
Promoting better Lung health in Kenya

Thank you

Promoting better Lung health in Kenya