After the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immuned Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, asthma and other non-communicable diseases rank as the next global health conditions that may plaque humanity, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Professor Olujimi Akinkugbe, has said.

Professor Akinkugbe, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State stated this on Wednesday, at the presentation of a book, entitled:  “Asthma in Africa,” edited by Professor Abolade Awotedu, Head, Department of Medicine, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa.

The former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), who was also the chairman at the book launch, said the increasing prevalence of asthma among people, particularly Nigerians without necessary actions taken by appropriate authorities to halt the trend, informed the designation of the asthma as a future world epidemic.

He stated the need for policy makers in the country and other African countries to be awakened  to the situation and put asthma treatment and its medication on essential drugs list.

Describing the 365-page book as an important contribution to the fight against asthma in Africa and the world in general, Professor Akinkugbe said the fact that many Nigerians head big hospitals in advanced countries bore eloquent testimony to the versatility of the medical education being taught in the country.

Editor of the book, Professor Awotedu, who said ashthma patients should not be ashamed to disclose their status, said he had lived with asthma and also lost his first son in 1992, in  memory of whom the book was dedicated.

Stressing the need for early diagnosis and management to enable sufferers live long without problems, he noted that the ailment could be curtailed at its infancy.

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