WHO’S collaborating centre in Muscat celebrates World Asthma Day
The Collaborating Centre of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Research and Training in Chronic Respiratory Diseases celebrated World Asthma Day, which is observed on the first Tuesday of the month of May.
The celebration was held under the auspices of H E Dr Said bin Harib al Lamki, Undersecretary for Health Affairs in the Ministry of Health, with the presence of representatives from the WHO country office in Oman, and the Oman Respiratory Society.
Through celebrating World Asthma Day, the centre aimed to shed light on the importance of awareness efforts for controlling and managing asthma and highlight the centre’s efforts in addressing the challenges of asthma on both the global and regional levels.
Dr Shadha al Raisi, the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre, stressed the centre’s commitment to advocating for the improvement and development of therapeutic and preventive services for asthma, as well as raising awareness globally and regionally.
In addition, Raisi highlighted the importance of integrating asthma treatment through a primary care approach, which has led to a reduction in asthma hospitalisation rates in several countries worldwide, including Oman.
Dr Raisi further added that asthma can be controlled and deaths due to this disease can be prevented through educating policymakers, healthcare providers, patients, and their families.
Additionally, Dr Alaa Hashish, Public Health Officer in the WHO Country Office in Oman, pointed out the global burden of asthma and the interventions currently undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It's worth mentioning that the Non-communicable Diseases Department at the Directorate General of Health Services and Programmes has been appointed as a collaborating centre for training and research in the field of chronic respiratory diseases.
This came as a result of the methodology adopted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Omani Respiratory Society to integrate asthma treatment into primary healthcare institutions, along with investment in inhalation medications and training healthcare personnel. This effort has led to positive health indicators in reducing the burden of asthma.
In line with the global dialogue, the center collaborating with the World Health Organization emphasises the importance of raising awareness among all stakeholders involved in treating and preventing asthma, including healthcare providers, decisionmakers, patients, and their families. The centre also calls for investment in providing inhalation medications through easily accessible services.
Additionally, it underscores the importance of training all healthcare providers, including pharmacists and nurses, to ensure optimal use of inhalation medications and to educate patients and their families about asthma treatment plans.