Allergy Bangladesh

General information

What Allergy Bangladesh wants to achieve and why?
Allergy is a global health concern and the prevalence of allergic diseases both in developed and developing countries has increased dramatically in recent years. According to the World Allergy Organisation (WAO) about 30 to 40% of people are victims of one or more allergens in their lives, while children and young adults suffer the most.

According to study reports of Australia and UK, 1 in 3 people are the victims of allergic diseases. This proportion to the population in Bangladesh might be higher, only the appropriate research studies can give the answer.
Outdoor air pollution in particular including unregulated vehicle exhaust fumes and airborne dust may contribute to this figure. Allergic diseases include asthma, bronchitis, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), chronic nasal allergies, conjunctivitis, eye allergies, skin allergy including eczema, urticarial, food allergies, latex allergy, wasp and insect allergies, angioedema, drug allergies and anaphylaxis.

Globally an estimated 300 million people suffer with asthma alone and about 50% of whom live in developing countries.
Among them 250,000 premature deaths occur annually which could have been avoided with proper management.

The total estimated cost of managing asthma patients in the USA is US $19.7 billion annually. Despite the financial burden and mortality rate, the quality of the life of allergic sufferers is miserable and living with fear of anaphylaxis; which often if remain untreated causes death.

Therefore, it is an important issue for the national and international community to address the challenge that threatens health and economies alike and to make an action plan to deal with this issue where these are not yet developed.
Currently developed countries have good progress in the diagnosis, treatment and research work of allergic diseases; however, developing countries like Bangladesh are far behind in addressing this challenge.

Unfortunately, there is no up-to-date data of the prevalence of allergic patients in Bangladesh. The awareness of allergy in the general ghost1population is extremely poor and in many cases is misperceived. Still, some people due to lack of understanding/ignorance believe that sudden death from anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) is involved with the action/influence of ghosts!

The diagnostic and modern treatment facilities (e.g. immunotherapy,) are almost unavailable for the allergic sufferer in Bangladesh. Not only this, Adrenaline Auto Iinjectors (AAIs) is known to be the life saving emmergency device for the allergy sufferer with the high risk of severe allergic symptoms (anaphylaxis) is unavaiable too. According to a survey conducted in the UK, it was revealed that 66% of people do not know how to use an AAI (a simple injection which can quickly save a life) and alarmingly almost 100% of people in Bangladesh even do not know what an Adrenaline Auto Injector is? Therefore, you can imagine how urgent it is for the people of Bangladesh to understand this issue/subject? Therefore, there should be an action plan to deal with this urgent issue.

For now is the time, not only for the inhabitants and goverment of Bangladesh but also for humanitarian reasons, the international community should get involved in this action plan. This may include individual, organisational, national initiation, partnerships involving different sponsors from low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

In order to be a part of this urgent mission, Allergy Bangladesh has been formed for a call for help by the £1 Hospital and which wishes to work with this issue in addition to providing basic healthcare to the poorest of Bangladesh.

Allergy Bangladesh aims to provide the necessary information and training about allergies which help develop awareness, understanding allergies in patients, physician and healthcare providers in order to raise awareness about the risks associated with the condition and its management. If you want more information about £1 pound hospital please visit:
www.onepounhospital.org.uk