A leading pulmonologist, Prof. Olufunke Adeyeye, has called for the urgent integration of asthma care into Nigeria’s national strategy for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), warning that the respiratory condition continues to impose a heavy burden on millions of Nigerians.
Adeyeye also appealed for stronger implementation of existing health policies to improve access to asthma diagnosis and treatment, stressing that effective policies must move beyond documentation to tangible action that benefits patients.
The professor made the call while delivering the 118th Inaugural Lecture Series of Lagos State University (LASU) at the institution’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos. The lecture was titled “Breath in Bondage: Breaking the Yoke of Asthma with Knowledge and Action.”
She emphasised that essential asthma medications, particularly inhaled corticosteroids, should not only be listed in national drug formularies but also subsidised to make them affordable for patients.
According to her, the medications must be readily available across the country to ensure equitable access to treatment, especially for vulnerable populations who often struggle with the cost of long-term care.
Adeyeye stressed that improving the management of non-communicable diseases requires a holistic approach that includes early detection, proper screening, effective treatment, and sustained access to healthcare services.
She also underscored the need to strengthen diagnostic capacity by ensuring the availability of tools such as peak flow meters, spirometers, and other equipment used to measure airway function and inflammatory biomarkers.
The pulmonologist described asthma as a chronic respiratory condition that, when poorly managed, can significantly limit the physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being of affected individuals, depriving them of dignity and freedom.
Globally, she noted, more than 300 million people live with asthma, while earlier studies estimate that about 13 million Nigerians are affected. Prevalence rates vary across regions, with Lagos State recording some of the highest cases due to factors such as urbanisation and pollution.
Adeyeye warned that asthma accounts for about 1,000 deaths daily worldwide, many of which are preventable. She therefore called on government and stakeholders to strengthen public awareness, expand school-based asthma programmes, support research in pulmonology, and enforce environmental regulations to improve air quality and reduce exposure to asthma-triggering pollutants.