National Daily

Nugget on Asthma: Asthmatics are stigamatised

WHAT informed the establishment of this foundation and for how long has it being in operation.

RAFON was established when it became apparent to me and a few others that there is no visible organized body that saddles itself with the responsibility to advocates the plight of asthmatics in our society.
Statistically there are over 550 million people having asthmatic disorder globally, the major crop of these suffers are in developing nations Nigeria inclusive.

In developed countries there are a number of initiatives designed by the authorities to ameliorate the plight of asthmatics which is non existent here.

The turning point came when I lost a loved one to asthmatic disorder, he died as a result of ignorance on asthma management, and this is so since he was not born asthmatic but developed it at adulthood.
RAFON has been in operation for 3 years it took a year for us to lay the ground work and we finally commence operational advocacy 2 years ago.

What are the aims, objectives and terms of reference of the foundation
We have a five point agenda which we mapped out, the first is to draw attention of the federal, state and local governments to the plights of the sufferers.
Secondly we are set to mobilize resources necessary to confront drug acquisition challenges faced by asthmatics and help provide better treatment facilities.
Thirdly we serve as a bridge between international and local initiatives. Fourthly we have initiatives in place to sponsor medical consultancy on issues of Asthma peculiar to our local clime.

Finally we have initiated ways and means to acquire 1000 inhalers for the asthmatics on a monthly basis.

As the chief facilitator what gave you the courage of conviction to spear head this initiative
This is a humanitarian cause; it stems from a deep and profound desire to help asthmatics most especially those that cannot afford their medication.

My crew and I are of the conviction that our sincerity of purpose, tenacity of fortitude and determination to assist asthmatics in all ways we could will stand for us in good time.

Asthma is not a communicable disease yet sufferers are often stigmatized, therefore they conceal their disability and suffer in silence.

A teenager once told me that though he has dreams for the future but he dare not dream because he is bound to die young.
All these made my mind up for me to do something and what I can do is this intervention via the foundation.

Are you a sufferer if not have you been involved in primary care for a sufferer
Presently I am dealing with asthma allergies, asthma can be hereditary my mother is asthmatic she became asthmatic after giving birth to me.

My mother a retired nursing chief matron has been able to manage and control her triggers for the past three years though I still buy Seretide inhaler for her monthly.
I have been involved in primary care right from my student days at the Olabisi Onabanjo University. I once saved the life of an asthmatic who in the course of having sex with his girlfriend suffered an attack; I had to do mouth to mouth resuscitation while I quickly send the girlfriend to get him an inhaler.

I have indigent Nigerians on my personal list who I buy Ventolin and Franol for on a regular basis.

How do you think organisations such as yours can access the World Asthma Fund
RAFON and others can access the fund through a certification of our operation by relevant federal and state agencies and forwarding our operational reports to the international bodies responsible the fund.
Can you list some of your foundation's local and international partners
Internationally we have the Asthma foundation of Queensland, Asthma foundation of Canada, America Lungs and Allergy Association.

On the national level, to mention a few the media yours inclusive, Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Otunba Subomi Balogun has been very supportive, the office of the first lady of Lagos state, the office of the first lady of the federation and a league of medical practitioners to numerous to list here.
How do you raise funds for the foundation current operation

The foundation is being funding from my personal cash flow, that of my crew members and well wishers.
However to increase our operational capacity we are setting motion in place to reach out to banks, oil companies, state government's, individual Nigerians to come to the aid of sufferer through the sponsorship of our awareness programmes, events, workshop and sensitization road walk.

I am using this opportunity to call on wealthy sufferers to join us in this crusade. They can assist by buying inhalers and asthma drugs for the less privileged sufferers. It should come to mind that the late Senate president, Chuba Okadigbo was asthmatic.

Lastly the oil companies and other manufacturing companies should address the issue of pollution as this is among the chief causes of asthma.