Kenya: Why COPD Will Be the 3rd Leading Killer by 2030

Source from:  Onislam 11/17/2014

In 2005, World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that three million people died worldwide due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and this represented a 5% of all deaths per year globally.

Since then, no official annual estimates have been released by the body although experts say the statistics might be gory.

Key among the causes of COPD is cigarettes smoking. To reduce the number of COPD cases, several countries have drafted stringent laws that govern smokers. These laws are aimed at discouraging people from stopping to smoke.

Such laws have led to the formation of smoking zones where smokers are supposed to go. In the East Africa region, however, Kenya has the most effective laws governing smokers.

Future Projections

It is predicted by the WHO that in 2030, COPD will be the third leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is a lung ailment that is noticed as a result of persistent blockage of airflow from the lungs.

One of the leading causes of the disease is smoke. Those from the developing countries are more susceptible to the disease due to poverty although those from developed countries are also victims.

Instead of using modern methods of cooking such as gas cooker, they resort to use firewood, which is thought to emit more deadly smoke.

Dr. Francis Wafula of a Kenyan private hospital says those hailing from poor families are always the victims of the disease.

"They use firewood when cooking. But then that does not exclude those is upper social class who use cigarettes. Cigarettes give out smoke which eventually goes to the lungs," Wafula says.

And as the world marks COPD day, it is estimated (2004 data) that more than 64 million people have the disease.

Experts say the disease is rampant in low and middle income countries and containing it has been a difficult task due to poor policies.

However, in the recent past, African countries have made great strides in combating the disease. Still, there is a lot to be done like knowing exactly the extent of the disease.

Dr. Wafula of Agha Khan Hospital in Kenya says the leading cause of COPD in Kenya is smoke. "The leading causer is smoke. Smoke from cigarettes, fire woods, industries and burning of charcoal," Wafula told OnIslam in an interview in Nairobi. Enditem