It worries a lot when we still have respiratory diseases affecting Kenya and the world at large.
Despite being preventable, they are among the top causes of death according to the latest data.
They are ranked as Kenya's biggest health threat.
The common respiratory diseases include asthma, chronic pulmonary disease, and pneumonia just to mention but a few.
Their effects range from one disorder to another but the worrying effect is that they both result in impairment in the respiratory system.
According to the latest Economic Survey in Kenya, Kenya has a long way to go to eradicate respiratory diseases this is because a good number of people are infected daily despite the existence of preventable ways.
In 2020 for example the Economy Survey showed respiratory illness formed 25 per cent of reported incidences in public facilities and the figure continues to grow.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released recently indicates that 20,613,455 cases of respiratory diseases have been reported as of December 2021.
According to the World Health Organization, globally more than 1 billion people suffer from chronic respiratory conditions.
The common causes of respiratory diseases range from infection to smoking that's why it is not advisable to smoke tobacco because it causes air pollution which is also a significant cause of respiratory conditions.
The common signs of respiratory conditions are chest tightness, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, and hemoptysis just to mention but a few.
It is a call therefore for the concerned stakeholders to address this public health menace before it worsens.
The approach to this serious health issue is at a snail's pace and that is why less has been done to limit its undesirable effects.
If respiratory conditions are not well controlled and prevented, they are expected to cause devastating effects on human beings.
As we approach the August election, the incoming government needs to prioritise respiratory health and establish a lasting solution for the recent worrying effects of these conditions.
The people who are the first victims should be at the forefront to fight these conditions.
The government should sensitise citizens on respiratory conditions and the suspected individuals should go for a free diagnosis and get affordable treatment.
Everyone is at risk so let's avoid exposure to indoor pollutants that can damage our lungs.
Student at Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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