WAD 2021

SUMMARY OF ACTVITIES FOR WORLD ASTHMA DAY 2021: AACG

Government Technical College, Enugu

Pharmacist Chiamaka Echeta educated the students on asthma, with focus on the misconceptions. The meeting held on Tuesday, 4th May, 2021, a day to the World Asthma Day 2021.

Asthma Awareness Walk/WAD 2021-AACG Stand

The Asthma Awareness Walk organized by the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG) held in the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). The Walk started by 8:00 am. AACG members involved in this section included:

Asthma can occur at any age (in children, adolescents, adults and elderly)
Asthma is not infectious
When asthma is well-controlled, asthma subjects are able to exercise and even perform top sport
Asthma is most often controllable with low dose inhaled steroids
Inhalers are not addictive
Asthma is not only related to genetics
Environmental factors such as air pollution can increase the prevalence of asthma
Patients with asthma should know their triggers
Symptoms of asthma differ from one patient to the other
Always tell your pharmacist you have asthma whenever you need medications

There were different activities at the WAD 2021-AACG Stand. The Stand had a canopy with twenty plastic chairs. Hence, participants who wanted to sit for a chat felt comfortable doing so.

Two WAD 2021-AACG Banners were hung at conspicuous positions. The banners had four facts that addressed some misconceptions of asthma.

Two asthma videos were played repeatedly on the projector stand. The first video was to help the school community understand asthma while the second video was on providing emergency first aid response during asthma attacks. It was difficult to miss the stand as the banners, projector stand and speakers were well-positioned.

Asthma pamphlets were given to participants. These pamphlets were educational materials on asthma with contact details to reach AACG if there was need for further engagements.

In addition, questionnaires with items centered around the theme of WAD 2021 were filled by consenting participants.

The programme ended by 12:10 pm.

VOICE 96.7 FM Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

This report covers the radio talk show held in Voice 96.7 FM located in Nsukka on Wednesday, 5th May, 2021. The goal of the programme was to address some common asthma misconceptions, in tandem with the World Asthma Day theme for 2021, “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”.
Prior to the radio programme, there were jingles played on the radio station to create awareness. The jingles were in two languages: Central Igbo (Chikamso Ugwu) and English (Marycybill Egwuatu).
Emmanuella Ogbonna, Chinelo Ezenwafor and Sampson Christian represented the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG) at the radio station.
The 30-minutes programme started by 9.30 am. The talk show was interactive with different questions posed by the moderator. Some of the questions asked and addressed included:

What is asthma?
What are the symptoms of asthma?
What causes asthma/risk factors?
What are asthma triggers?
Does asthma kill and what is the mortality rate of asthma in Nigeria?
Asthma is not only related to genetics
What are common misconceptions of asthma in Nigeria?
Do you think asthma patients are stigmatized and if they are, how can this be addressed?
Why do you think many asthma patients hide their conditions?
What is the first aid for an asthma patient having an attack?
What is the difference between a reliever inhaler and a controller inhaler?
Can asthma be cured?
Is asthma a spiritual attack?
Is asthma infectious?

LION 91.1 FM Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

This report covers the radio talk show held in Lion 91.1 FM located in Nsukka on Wednesday, 5th May, 2021. The goal of the programme was to address some common asthma misconceptions, in tandem with the World Asthma Day theme for 2021, “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”.

Prior to the radio programme, there were jingles played on the radio station to create awareness. The jingles were in two languages: Central Igbo (Chikamso Ugwu) and English (Marycybill Egwuatu).

Gerald Ozota, Munachiso Elekwa and Chizaram Oparaugo represented the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG) at the radio station.

The 30-minutes programme started by 3.30 pm. The talk show was interactive with different questions posed by the moderator. The questions were centred around the misconceptions of asthma.

UNIUYO 100.7 FM Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

This report covers the radio talk show held in Uniuyo 100.7 FM located in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State on Saturday, 8th May, 2021. The goal of the programme was to address some common asthma misconceptions, in tandem with the World Asthma Day theme for 2021, “Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions”.

Somtochi Nwani represented the Asthma Awareness and Care Group (AACG) at the radio station.

The programme started by 8.00 am. The talk show was interactive with different questions posed by the moderator. Some of the questions asked and addressed included:

What is asthma?
How can someone know he/she has asthma?
What are the triggers?
Does one have a role to play in preventing asthma?
Is asthma treatable?
What role does genetics play in asthma?
Is asthma transmittable?
Can one outgrow asthma?
Are asthma medicines addictive?
Is the treatment of asthma only when symptoms are present?
Does everyone with asthma experience the same symptoms?
What is the role of allergy in asthma?
Is asthma a spiritual attack?
Is asthma just about the lungs or are there systemic involvements?
Do dietary supplements treat asthma?
Do asthma medications stop working over time?
Do asthma medications stunt the growth of children?

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

AACG members were highly-active on social media.

The WAD 2021-AACG logo was widely-utilized as display pictures and statuses on WhatsApp. There were also messages addressing the misconceptions of asthma on different social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Two AACG members (Chiamaka Echeta and Kosisochi Amorha) had their 15-seconds video included in the medley of videos made by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and uploaded on the GINA website prior to WAD 2021. See the link below:

https://youtu.be/DDsvb3oqVCk