KUWAIT CITY: Asthma is a common health problem affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of asthma have been noted to increase over the past few decades. There is also an upward trend in asthma mortality with annual deaths of 250,000; the increase in mortality and morbidity of asthma is unlike other chronic diseases where mortality and morbidity numbers are declining," Dr Fatma Al Hurish, event chairperson said during the inauguration of a three-day conference on the causes of asthma, its treatment and prevention held at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel's Arraya Ballroom on Tuesday.
Uncontrolled asthma is the main cause of absence from school and work resulting in high economic costs. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in addition to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) have put a lot of effort to provide a comprehensive plan to manage asthma and develop a network to disseminate information about asthma worldwide. In spite of all the efforts, there is clear cut evidence of suboptimal asthma control in many countries; a large part of this problem can be addressed by the proper understanding of asthma by health providers, encourage the availability of medication and implement effective asthma management programs.
Asthma is a major health problem in Kuwait and it is our responsibility to know the incidence and prevalence of asthma in our country and to establish a comprehensive program to improve the standard of patient care. In order to accomplish that, we have organized for the first time in Kuwait the First Asthma Conference in the Middle East. "This conference is the first step towards creating a dedicated team in the near future to implement effective asthma control in Kuwait and possibly, the entire Middle East as well."
Private medical practitioners as well as medical staff from government and private hospitals are taking part in "The First Middle East Asthma Conference in Kuwait" held under the auspices of the Minister of Health. A number of foreign experts as well as from Kuwait and other GCC countries have been invited to share their knowledge and experience in tackling the disease which afflicts some 300 million people worldwide, under the conference theme: "Towards Better Asthma Control in the Middle East."
Topics discussed on the opening session include: Global Burden of Asthma; Asthma Prevention & Education; Case Scenarios: Pediatric Asthma; and Diagnosis & Investigations.
Basic Science of Asthma; Asthma is an Allergic Disease; Case Scenarios: Environment & Occupational Asthma; and Infection & Asthma, will be the topics on Wednesday, Jan 7.
Special Consideration; Difficulty in treating Asthma; Case Scenarios: Asthma Management & Diagnosis; and Treatment of Asthma, are the topics on Thursday, Jan 8, the last day of the conference.
An exhibition featuring the latest diagnostic instruments, medical equipments and anti-asthma drugs and medications is also being held at the same time as the three-day confab with Advance Technology Company (ATC), GlaxoSmi-thKline, Bader Sultan & Bros Co, Al Essa, Gulf Advanced Trading Co, Abbott, Stallergenes, Novartis, MSD and Central Circle Co among the exhibitors.
By Boie Conrad Dublin
© Arab Times 2009
