Trust Hospital Champions Equal Access to Inhalers as Ghana Marks World Asthma Day

Asthma remains a silent but deadly threat in Ghana, and on World Asthma Day 2025, The Trust Hospital is making one thing clear: life-saving inhalers must be accessible to all. In a powerful call to action, the hospital joined forces with global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to push for better treatment and early diagnosis for asthma sufferers across the country.

At a special event hosted at the Trust Hospital Premium Centre in Accra, medical professionals, advocates, and patients gathered under the global theme “Make Inhaled Treatment Accessible to All.” The event spotlighted the urgent need for accessible asthma care, especially for underserved populations.

A Unified Voice for Affordable Asthma Care in Ghana

Dr. Juliana Oye Ameh, CEO of The Trust Hospital, led the charge with a moving keynote, describing asthma as both a personal and public health issue. “Over 96% of asthma-related deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries. We cannot continue to let cost or access determine who lives or dies,” she stated.

The hospital, which operates a dedicated asthma clinic, shared real-life success stories—including that of a child whose life has dramatically improved thanks to regular inhaler use and clinic support. Dr. Ameh urged stakeholders to reimagine asthma care as a national priority, not a privilege.

AstraZeneca’s representative, Mrs. Dorothy Arthur, echoed this message, offering practical tips on inhaler use and introducing the Turbuhaler—a simplified device designed to deliver consistent doses. “Technique matters,” she explained. “When patients know how to use their inhalers properly, outcomes improve significantly.”

Dr. Allen Steele-Dadzie, a senior family medicine specialist, underscored the need for early diagnosis and monitoring through dedicated asthma clinics. “Asthma is manageable. What patients need is support, education, and timely intervention,” he said.

Dr. Selassie Amegashie and Dr. Nana Ama Abankwah both added to the urgent dialogue, calling attention to the rise of adult-onset asthma and the underestimated burden of the disease in low-resource countries. The panel closed with a vibrant Q&A session where patients voiced concerns and got direct input from experts.

The Trust Hospital took the opportunity to renew its appeal for cross-sector collaboration, emphasizing that reducing asthma deaths in Ghana will require more than awareness—it will demand policy changes, affordability measures, and sustained advocacy.

“We must act now. Together, we can prevent needless deaths and restore hope to asthma patients across the country,” Dr. Ameh concluded.