JEDDAH — The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that there are around 235 million people suffering from asthma globally and the Saudi Ministry of Health has announced recently that around 10 percent of adults as well as 20 percent of children in the Kingdom have asthma. This means there are 2 million asthma patients in Saudi Arabia, according to experts at a forum organized by the Saudi Thoracic Society at InterContinental Hotel in Jeddah on Friday.
During the forum, sponsored by US Mundipharma International Ltd., an international leader in manufacturing asthma drugs, a new medication, named Flutiform, was introduced.
Flutiform is a inhaler that would help patients to control asthma and lead a better life.
Prof. Mohamed Al-Hajjaj, chairman of the Saudi Thoracic Society and 200 other Saudi physicians, attended the forum.
Fahd Al-Otaiby, general manager of Mundipharma in Saudi Arabia, said enhancing awareness about asthma through campaigns and media programs is very important. He said, “A wide range of activities are in the pipeline by Mundipharma to raise awareness about the disease risks and the importance of choosing the right medication.”
Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Prof. Omar Osmani, a thoracic and respiratory medicine consultant at the National Heart and Lung Institute in Imperial College in London, explained that the main challenge at the moment really are getting healthcare professionals to recognize poor asthma control in their patients.
When asked about some tips for mothers who have children with asthma, he said, “Mothers who have children with asthma should first make sure that their children are able to use the inhaler properly, or they should help them to use it. Secondly, they should try to use the therapy regularly and regularly means daily. Thirdly, they should know whether a child has other problems associated with their asthma such as allergies and in that situation they should try to avoid exposure to allergens as best as possible. IT is not always possible. They should also know whether the child has any problem with the environment, and if so they shall try to keep the child away from that environment as best as they can, but sometimes that too is difficult.”
Osmani said the treatment approach has two aspects — the reliever to heal the symptoms of asthma really quickly and the preventer, which is used to try stopping and controlling the symptoms.
“In the last five years we have seen improvement in the kinds of preventers available,” he added.
He said the launch of the new medication in the Kingdom is a significant landmark.
The new medicine has obtained the approval of the Ministry of Health and the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority.
Shahd Alhamdan - Saudi Gazette
