By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
A group, the Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF), has decried the soaring cost of drugs for managing asthma in the country.
It also deplored the dearth of specialised doctors for treatment of the ailment in Nigeria.
Asthma, which is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, is one of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide and a leading cause of avoidable suffering and death.
Chairman of the Foundation, Professor Chiwuike Uba, told newsmen in a press briefing on Friday in Enugu that in Nigeria, “the scale of the problem is sobering.”
Professor Uba noted that with an estimated 15 million-20 million patients, the country carries one of the heaviest national burdens of asthma globally.
According to him, urban prevalence rates range from 10 to 13 per cent among children and young adults, while rural communities record slightly lower but still significant figures.
He said: “Yet, Nigeria has fewer than 80 registered respiratory physicians — equivalent to just one specialist for every 2.3 million citizens.
“Most patients are therefore managed by general health practitioners who often lack access to spirometry, the diagnostic gold standard.
“A national audit revealed that only a handful of hospitals and private centers own functional spirometers, and even fewer employ staff trained to use them effectively.
“The consequences are tragic: thousands of avoidable deaths each year, particularly among the young.
“In schools, asthma remains one of the leading causes of absenteeism, undermining educational attainment and limiting opportunities for millions of children.”
Professor Uba said that the economic burden of asthma is staggering, adding that average direct treatment costs range from US$309 (about N465,000) to US$368 (about N553,000) per patient annually, with medicines accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the expense.
He noted that for households living below the poverty line, asthma treatment consumes more than 30 per cent of annual income, forcing families to ration inhalers, skip doses or abandon treatment altogether.
“Indirect costs further compound the problem; missed school days, lost work productivity and premature deaths.
“Drug affordability remains a central challenge.
“In Nigeria, the cost of a salbutamol (Ventolin) inhaler has surged from around ₦3,500 to more than ₦7,500 in just two years, with some brands priced as high as between ₦15,000 and N20,000.
“Long-term controller inhalers often exceed ₦25,000 — far beyond the reach of most citizens who pay out-of-pocket,” Uba, who is a Professor of Developmental Economy and health financing expert, said.
He urged the Federal and State governments as well as health partners to collaborate to reduce the financial burden of asthma and promote specialised studies and research into the ailment.
PHOTO CAPTION: Professor Uba.
