Guidelines but no programme

Opportunities for improving asthma prevention and control emerged following the 1992 establishment in Ghana of the Non-Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention Programme. However, Ghana has no specific national strategies for the prevention and control of asthma. Although the Ghana National Standard Treatment Guidelines include asthma, the absence of a National Asthma Control Programme, similar to that employed for infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB), hampers effective long-term control of asthma in Ghana.

Asthma assessment

Health professionals in Ghana commonly diagnose asthma by history, examination and repeated observations, with limited use of spirometry. Asthma Clinics, recently established in some major hospitals, mostly in southern Ghana, are improving asthma management in their catchment areas. However, dedicated asthma management facilities in other locations are rare. Adolescent asthmatics are a neglected group, as neither paediatricians nor adult physicians see them. Frequent emergency room visits and avoidable deaths occur in children and adults due to poorly controlled asthma more often than severe disease.

Priorities for improved asthma management

Controlling tobacco smoking, combating the obesity epidemic, and subsidising medication and devices for asthma management are recognised strategies for asthma control. However, the limited range and prohibitive cost of asthma medications, shortage of asthma management experts, and poor funding for asthma control activities undermine progress in asthma management.

Advocacy

Advocacy for an effective asthma control strategy in Ghana continues in line with Global Asthma Network recommendations. This includes, but is not limited to, the introduction of electronic clinical databases of asthma patients and adequate funding for research to inform effective control strategies.

Emmanuel Addo-Yobo, Rafiuk Cosmos Yakubu

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