The Techiman Holy Family Hospital is one of about 300 health facilities across the country to receive Nebulizer machines aimed at improving paediatric and adult asthma management in the country.

The donation which forms part of the Africa PUMUA initiative, an AstraZeneca Ghana Project intended to complement the government’s efforts in the management of Asthma and aligned to the Health Ministry’s National Policy for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non- Communicable Diseases in Ghana.

The devices were installed at the paediatrics ward and would help in administering medication in the form of mist inhaled into the lungs to treat respiratory disorders such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and other diseases in infants.

County lead for Astrazaneca Ghana, Mr. Mawuli Atiemo, disclosed to Joy News that the global outfit launched the Africa PUMUA (Swahili word meaning ‘Breathe’) initiative as part of collective commitment to ensure accessibility to sustainable health, improved and affordability asthma care in Africa.

He said the initiative, through its partnerships, was to address the barriers currently preventing access to care for asthma patients.

"The idea is to break the gap in asthma care as we've identified throughout the country in the course of our work," he said

He added that "PUMUA is basically supporting asthma in both adults and children but when it comes to children sometimes managing asthma is quite a challenge. Nebulization happens to be one of the mainstream management for asthma in children and that is why we are focusing on children because you know they're very delicate and the future of the world. So getting them into good shape is the way to go".

He noted that major health facilities both private and public in the Bono, and Bono East Regions are all receiving this support.

"This week, we are visiting most of the Ghana Health Service facilities around the regions, Kintampo, Sunyani Regional Hospital, the Municipal Hospital and also the faith-based institutions around which includes Nkoranza St. Teresa's hospital, Techiman Holy Family Hospital, Wenchi Methodist Hospital and the Presbyterian hospital in Dormaa Ahenkro", he said

He again noted that "we believe that people should not be dying from asthma currently so we are hoping that this initiative would support the health care and strengthen the system and we also support the health workers in achieving that and preventing all the unnecessary deaths that happen with asthma".

Receiving the two Nebulizers on behalf of the facility, Snr. Specialist Pediatrician, Dr. Jacqueline Gyapomaa Assibey expressed gratitude to the donors for the gesture and said the donation was crucial and would help prevent patients from queuing to have access to the one Nebulizer that serves the entire ward.

"Prior to these donations, the pediatric ward which has 44 beds has one Nebulizer so there are sometimes mothers who would have to queue for Nebulization but the donation of the two is going to help the situation much better and the waiting time would improve," she said

She again indicated that "though the donation is timely, we still need more so we can place one at the clinic because some of them come and they need just Nebulization for few hours and go homes. So it would be good to have some at the clinic and the emergency ward as well".