Over 2 m Lankans suffer from asthma

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Over two million Sri Lankans are presently suffering from asthma.They comprise twenty five percent of children and 10 per cent of adults. Asthma has increased in Sri Lanka by 50 per cent during the last 10 years, specialist doctors attached to the Colombo Chest Clinic say.

Addressing a special seminar at the Health Education Bureau yesterday to mark World No Tobacco Day specialist doctors said asthma is the third highest killer in Sri Lanka. Over 300 million in the world suffer from asthma which can be cured through long term treatment.

According to them, treatments are available in Sri Lanka for asthma,expensive and high quality treatment and drugs are not available. Asthma patients can obtain better results by seeking long term treatment from a qualified doctor.

Prof. Carlo Fonseka said Sri Lanka could be made a smoking free country by 2015 as President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated in May, 2008. Sri Lankan children still listen to their parents and elders, therefore, it is possible to achieve this target. “Smoking kills six million people in the world annually,” he added.