Speaking about the program, Medical Director of NAABI Prof A G Ghoshal said, “Specialized up-to-date care for respiratory patients are available only at few centers. To counter the menace as big as this, we need to develop strategies to promote existing facilities and to raise awareness about the availability. Also we need to outreach to the extremely peripheral primary care physicians and the health care workers where much can be done with existing resources.”
Just when the global debate on the adverse health effects of rising air pollution levels and deteriorating air quality in Indian cities is heating up, we face tough scenario to diagnose and manage the obstructive Airway disease (COPD and Asthma) epidemic.
Almost 90 percent of Indian population visit primary care doctors for their daily needs.Obstructive Airway Disease is a huge epidemiological problem in the country accounting 7.6 percent deaths.
The disease burden in India is at an all-time high with the country witnessing the maximum number of deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases. To add to it in India now, 110 million people smoke, compared to just 74.5 million smokers over three decades back becoming COPD patients over a period of time and inviting other diseases. These diseases are highly amenable to interventions like smoking cessation and highly responsive to treatment at the early stage.
Respiratory diseases affect not just general health, but also the overall quality of the life of patients, necessitating early diagnosis and right treatment. Most of the damage also occurs very early which mandates early management. Resorting to new-age technology for diagnosis and management of chronic respiratory ailments, including asthma and COPD, can go a long way in helping patients lead quality lives.
Yet most of these disease go undiagnosed and under-treated due to delay from patients and doctors’ little interest or knowledge in treating these deadly menaces. National Allergy Asthma Bronchitis Institute (NAABI) has organised a 3 module certificate training course for General Practitioners on diagnosis and treatment of respiratory ailments . The modules were discussed in 3 different sessions. The first session discussed about Concept of Obstructive Airway Diseases (OAD) and utility of spirometry to monitor the lung power of a person. It also focussed on patient communication for correct diagnosis and right treatment method and technique for the therapy.
Second session updated about Asthma as a disease and its diagnosis along with management and avoiding mortality due to it. One in any ten patients of a physician suffers from asthma. Current asthma management is good enough to minimize morbidity and prevent any mortality.
Third session was organised on 20th March to discuss Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as a disease, prevention of acute exacerbation and the need for regular monitoring of COPD patients’ lung health. Any acute exacerbation of COPD takes huge toll on the patient’s resources and life. There were not only lectures, but also hands-on workshops and interactive sessions. The sessions were organised to empower primary care physicians to practise with in depth knowledge of respiratory diseases.
A total of 40 general practitioners attended the session. They were awarded with a certificate for the course ensuring their commitment to treat respiratory patients with confidence and empathy.
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Rajiv Lodha- 91 9831362041
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