#InhalersHainSahi – an awareness campaign to dispel myths and fears regarding asthma and encourage asthmatics to live a life without limits, was launched today, under the aegis of Cipla Limited. The campaign aims to eliminate stigma around the usage of inhalers, make it socially more acceptable and foster further dialogue between patients and their doctors.
According to Global Burden of Disease Report, “In India, around 93 Million people suffer from chronic respiratory diseases; of which around 37 million are asthmatics. India contributes to merely 11.1% of the global asthma burden, however, it accounts for over 42% of all global asthma deaths, making it the asthma death capital of the world2”.
According to Dr Vikas Mittal, Associate Director – Pulmonology and Sleep, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi “It is important to change the perception towards Asthma and inhalers. While inhalers can play a crucial role in reducing the impact of asthma on people’s lives, compliance is crucial. Inhalers deliver the drug directly to the lungs and works to control asthma by preventing, relieving symptoms and reducing flare-ups. However, inhalers can be effective only if patients pay attention to their doctors’ advice and follow the prescription”
Dr Ashish Jain, Senior Consultant – Respiratory Department, Max Hospital, Delhi added, “It remains a fact that the number of people affected by asthma has gone up and we need to do a lot more work in terms of education of patients on the correct treatment. Although asthma is not curable, it is possible to gain control over it and lead a normal active life. Here, the correct treatment and adherence to asthma management is crucial. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines recommend inhalers as a safe & effective way to control asthma as it reaches your lungs directly and starts acting immediately”.
Dr Jaideep Gogtay, Global Chief Medical Officer, Cipla, “Ongoing education is of paramount importance in chronic diseases like asthma. #InhalersHainSahi campaign aims at helping asthmatic patients live unstoppable lives with the use of inhalers. Our efforts are to engage people and encourage them to take necessary actions as guided by their doctors. If an attitudinal and behavioral change can be brought about concerning a disease, we try to make that happen by empowering patients with more information and understanding of the subject, along the wherewithal to deal with it better. #InhalersHainSahi is a movement to understand and accept the use of inhalers without fear and stigma”.