Equi-Resp-Africa in partnership with Centre for 21st Century Issues and Education District II Lagos State commemorates 2026 World Lung Day with a training workshop on asthma and lung health for secondary school students in Education District II of Lagos State.
In commemoration of the 2026 world Lung Day, an international organization Equi -Resp-Africa in partnership with Centre for 21st Century Issues and Education District II Lagos State today Friday 25th September 2026 in Lagos, held a training workshop on asthma and lung health for a cross section of secondary students from both private and public schools in education district II of the state.
The training programme involved a large number of participants which included respiratory experts notably Prof Obianuju Ozoh a consultant and pulmonologist of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Tochukwu Ayo Olagunju also a consultant pulmonologist of the College of Medicine University of Lagos, MS Titilope Akosa environmentalist, right activist and Executive Director Centre for 21st Century Issues, rights and good governance advocate Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, representative of the education district II Lagos State, teachers and students of the participating schools, parents, the media, among others.
In her opening presentation, Ms. Akosa spoke extensively on the Child Rights Act which she told the participants is now a law in Lagos State.
She highlighted provisions of the Child protection policy which is an executive order in Lagos State to include right to a name, education, exclusion from employment until the attainment of the age of 18, among others. She also mentioned agencies of state in charge of protecting the rights as well as availed the students, teachers and parents present of a hotline to call in case of a breach of the law.
According to Ms Titi Akosa, over 1800 persons have been trained on the Child Rights Act and that this training workshop is part of the process of educating students, teachers and parents on the imperative need to be on the side of the law as far as the right of the child is concerned in Lagos State.
In her presentation Prof Ozoh Obianuju of the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL), highlighted what lung health is, what could damage it and what to do to protect it.
According to her, "One common lung disease is asthma which is a mixture of genes and environment, caused by blockade of the airwaves". She went further to educate the participants that asthma is not contagious, is treatable and that inhalers are not addictive, but that they save lives.
She advocated that in order to protect our lungs to reach it's full potential as children, "We must abstain from smoking, engage in regular exercise, access immunization, and eat balance diet.
Prof Obianuju also spoke on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which is the 3rd leading cause of death in the world. It's symptoms include cough, sputum production, and wheezing.
She made it known that COPD is a function of age and smoking which damages the respiratory system.
Prof Obianuju Ozoh also informed the participants that the training workshop has been availed care givers in the medical profession and that it's being extended to students so as to catch them early in order to debunk myths around respiratory diseases.
In her presentation Dr Tochukwu Ayo Olagunju of the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL) explained that asthma is cursed by a mixture of genes and the environment. According to her, 13 million Nigerians suffer from asthma, with about 15% being children.
To her, symptoms of asthma include cough, wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness. Triggers or attacks occurs majorly in the morning and evenings because of the make up of man.
Dr. Ayo Olagunju identified spirometer and speak flow meter as the instrument for diagnosis of asthma, just as she emphasized that inhalers are the main
treatment for asthma instead of drugs.
She cautioned the participants to watch out for asthma triggers which provoke the attacks to include environmental factors such as dust, perfumes, charcoal, insecticide, smoke and air pollution, among several others.
She advised the participants to refrain from smoking and to recognize that asthma is not contagious, but can be treated with inhalers which clear blocked air waves.
The training then developed into a question and answer session in which the students displayed good understanding of the presentations with their questions.
The training workshop was put together by National Institute for Health Research, Equi-Resp-Africa, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Centre for 21st Century Issues
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