Delhi launches asthma manual to help schools build better management plans for emergencies

The manual, prepared by the Union Environment Ministry in collaboration with the Lung Care Foundation, aims at recognising asthma among school children, especially in cities like Delhi with at least four to five months of poor air quality every year.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan and his Delhi counterpart Imran Hussain on Thursday launched an asthma manual for schools to help schools build better management plans for emergencies.

The manual, prepared by the Union Environment Ministry in collaboration with the Lung Care Foundation, aims at recognising asthma among school children, especially in cities like Delhi with at least four to five months of poor air quality every year.

"Among 2,925 children screened, 24 per cent were seen as probable asthmatics of which 18.2 per cent (532) were diagnosed to have asthma, and only 6.2 per cent had previously diagnosed asthma by a physician," said a statement from the foundation.

According to Abhishek Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Lung Care Foundation, in a survey held in some schools of Jaipur, 25 per cent children were found to be asthmatic while in Bengaluru 10-15 per cent children were diagnosed with the disease.

"Many children had lost lives in schools due to asthma attacks and the lack of emergency measures. The disease still remains highly under-diagnosed in children," Kumar said.

The foundation states that the current prevalence of asthma is 18.2 per cent which is rapidly rising as a trend.

The manual describes how a school administration should act in case of an emergency. It focuses on recognising childhood asthma and how schools may provide a safe and supportive environment.