Equitable Respiratory Health in Africa (EQUI-RESP Africa) in partnership with the Centre for 21st Century Issues and Education District II, Lagos State, recently trained about 20 secondary school students on asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and general lung health. The training was held at Anthony Secondary School in Lagos to commemorate World Lung Day and raise awareness among young people about protecting their respiratory health from an early age.
The Executive Director of the Centre for 21st Century Issues, Titilope Ngozi Akose, stated that the organisation partnered with EQUI-RESP Africa to improve awareness of asthma, COPD, and other respiratory health conditions among different groups. The initiative is not limited to secondary school students, as similar training has been organised for nurses, with plans underway to extend the programme to media practitioners and other stakeholders.
One of the key lessons for the students was how to respond when someone experiences an asthma attack. The students were taught basic first-aid measures and how to provide immediate support to an asthma patient while awaiting professional medical assistance. Akose stressed the importance of equipping young people with basic knowledge of respiratory health, saying early awareness could help them recognise symptoms and respond appropriately in emergencies.
Akose also highlighted the importance of educating teachers on respiratory health, as they are usually the adults closest to students during school hours. She said the organisations planned to extend the programme to other education districts in Lagos State, subject to funding availability. Additionally, Akose used the occasion to stress the importance of educating children, parents, and teachers on the Child Rights Law of Lagos State.
Co-Principal Investigator of the Equitable Respiratory Health in Africa project, Prof. Obianuju Ozoh, said the project was a research initiative funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), United Kingdom, through the University of Edinburgh and the University of Lagos. The World Lung Day programme was designed to bring respiratory health education directly to young people.
Ozoh stated that EQUI-RESP Africa was focused on promoting equitable access to respiratory care and improving awareness of common respiratory diseases. The programme aimed to help students understand how their lungs work, what can damage them, and what they can do to maintain good respiratory health. Ozoh also urged students to become more aware of COPD, describing it as a common respiratory disease that many people still understand poorly.
A pulmonologist and respiratory physician, Dr. Ayo Oladunni, said the training was centred on equipping students with knowledge that would help them maintain healthy lungs throughout their lives. According to her, lung health is a lifelong issue that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood. The training programme is part of EQUI-RESP Africa's efforts to promote respiratory health education among young people in Lagos State.
Key points
- EQUI-RESP Africa trains 20 Lagos secondary school students on asthma, COPD, and lung health.
- The programme aims to promote equitable access to respiratory care and improve awareness of common respiratory diseases.
- The training includes teaching students basic first-aid measures and how to provide immediate support to an asthma patient.
