In an initiative to raise awareness on asthma and provide free lung tests and doctor consultation to the masses, Cipla, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies flagged-off the ‘Breathefree Yatra - A clinic-on-wheels’ from Feb. 19-25. Equipped with diagnostic tools, educational materials and a team of counselors, the Breathefree Yatra travelled across 12 locations in Delhi offering free respiratory check-ups with the support of two doctors in each of these locations. RW Promotions was responsible for executing this project. 

 

Commenting on the campaign, Dr. Hemant Kalra (Chest Physician), Dr Chandramani Punjabi (Chest Physician) and Dr KK Pandey (Chest Physician) said, “The paradox of asthma in India is that despite the availability and affordability of world-class treatment, this totally controllable disease is depriving the asthmatics in the country of a normal life, many a times subjecting them to traumatic attacks, hospitalization and even resulting in deaths and the scenario in Delhi is also the same."

 

Adding further, they said, “Many people treat symptoms like recurrent coughing, early morning coughing, breathlessness, and wheezing themselves, with cough medicines or over-the-counter drugs. Also, there is immense fear associated with the word ‘asthma’ and ‘inhalers’ and it is this inhibition towards the disease and its correct treatment that is leading to the suffering. The doctors at times find it difficult to convince the patient and therefore use an alternative term for ‘asthma’ like ‘bronchial spasms’ or ‘wheezing cough’ etc. to pronounce the diagnosis. Further, a doctor might have to prescribe oral tablets to majority of his patients to ensure that they don’t give up entirely on the treatment due to fears associated with inhalers. It is indeed questionable that why almost 80% of asthmatics in India are on oral tablets whereas the rest of the world treats asthma primarily with inhalers. Total control of asthma is possible and we as a nation must together break the myths on asthma and inhalers. We hope that Delhi participates and probably leads this transformation.” 

 

To support asthma patients and their families in understanding asthma, its symptoms, the triggers, and to remove the myths associated with the condition and its therapy, an extremely informative website – www.breathefree.com has been created by Cipla in 9 languages, including Tamil. The Breathefree Yatra in the 8 cities will leave behind canopies, where the free check-up service could still be availed by the masses. Additionally, people in Delhi have the option to volunteer and invite Breathefree to their residential colonies, schools or offices for a free lung check-up service, by registering on the website.