TMU celebrated World Asthma Day 2026 with Awareness Sessions and Expert Talks
The Department of Paediatrics, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre, celebrated World Asthma Day 2026 at TMU on 5 May 2026. The event aimed to spread awareness about asthma, its treatment, and the importance of making life-saving inhalers available to everyone. Faculty members, postgraduate students, healthcare professionals, and children admitted to the paediatric ward took part in the celebration.
The programme followed the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) theme: "Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need." The organisers highlighted that asthma is a long-term disease that affects nearly 260 million people worldwide and causes more than 450,000 deaths every year. They also explained that many of these deaths could be prevented with timely diagnosis and proper treatment.
Expert Talks & Children's Activities
During the awareness session, experts discussed childhood asthma and addressed the common misunderstanding that asthma is uncommon in children. They explained that many children, especially those living in urban areas, were diagnosed with asthma every year. The speakers also shared information about the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options available for childhood asthma.
The experts explained that inhaled bronchodilators helped open the narrowed airways and made breathing easier during asthma attacks. However, they also stressed that asthma was a chronic inflammatory disease, and bronchodilators alone could not control the inflammation. They said that adding inhaled corticosteroids to bronchodilator treatment helped control asthma, reduced repeated attacks, and prevented permanent damage to the lungs.
The speakers also discussed the challenges faced by patients in many low- and middle-income countries, where inhaled medicines, especially corticosteroid-containing inhalers, were often expensive or difficult to access. They pointed out that this lack of access was one of the main reasons for poor asthma control and preventable deaths. Even in developed countries, the high cost of inhalers sometimes limits access to proper treatment.
As part of World Asthma Day 2026 at TMU, several fun activities were organised for children admitted to the paediatric ward. These included a colouring competition, musical chairs, a lemon and spoon race, and a dance competition. The children participated with great enthusiasm, and prizes were distributed to the winners, making the celebration enjoyable and memorable.
An awareness programme was also organised for faculty members and postgraduate students. Dr N. S. Chithambaram, Professor of Paediatrics, explained the importance of the GINA theme and highlighted why anti-inflammatory inhalers should be included in asthma treatment. Dr Pritpal Singh Matreja, Vice-Principal and Head of the Department of Pharmacology, addressed the gathering and emphasised the need to combine inhaled corticosteroids with bronchodilators for better asthma management. Dr Rupa Raj Bhandari Singh, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, also shared valuable information on childhood asthma.
Dr N. S. Chithambaram later delivered a lecture on "Newer Lung Function Test", focusing on the Lung Oscillometry Test and its role in diagnosing respiratory diseases. The CIPLA team also demonstrated office spirometry, a portable lung function test that could be easily performed in outpatient departments.
Conclusion
The celebration successfully combined education, awareness, and patient engagement. Through expert lectures, practical demonstrations, and enjoyable activities for children, the event highlighted the importance of early diagnosis, proper treatment, and equal access to anti-inflammatory inhalers. The programme reflected TMU's commitment to promoting better respiratory health and improving awareness about asthma in the community.
