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A consultant paediatrician and dermatologist, Olatunde Odusote, has disclosed that Nigerians following the trend of relocating abroad are at risk of allergic diseases.
This comes as experts in allergy and immunology express concerns over the lack of awareness regarding allergic diseases, which has contributed to the global rise in such conditions.
Odusote made this known at a press conference held in the Ikeja area of Lagos State on Wednesday to announce a two-day conference aimed at addressing the issue of allergic diseases.
He attributed the global rise in allergic diseases, including asthma, eczema, and food allergies, to a lack of knowledge and dwindling access to care and training.
He said, “In the past, many of us believed that allergic diseases were not prevalent here, but unfortunately, we are now in that space. We have moved beyond the time when we thought that non-communicable diseases were not our concern. As lifestyle and environmental patterns change, we are now facing these issues. The question is: are we prepared to deal with them?
“The incidence is rising every day because there is inadequate advocacy or awareness. I can say that with the ‘japa’ trend, Nigerians travelling abroad are at risk of allergic diseases due to changes in the environment.
“Although the causes are not entirely clear, research has shown that lifestyle changes, the hygiene hypothesis, environmental changes, and exposure to biofuels, such as those used for cooking, can contribute to allergic diseases. My personal experience has also shown that genetics may play a role.”
Odusote called for a policy review and implementation by the government to address the rising issue of allergic diseases, especially at the community level.
He added that engaging local health practitioners, who could disseminate information within their communities, would significantly impact raising awareness of how community members could tackle allergic diseases.
He continued, “We have very good policies in our ministries, but the major challenge is implementation. So, we must start with awareness. One approach is to use respected figures, like retired teachers or principals, in each village as carriers of the message to local people. We should focus on empowering these individuals with the right information.”
Also speaking, consultant paediatrician, Tomi Ammond stressed the need for the government to review the Standard Operating Procedures for Primary Healthcare workers to include the management of allergies.
“The SOPs, which are guidelines for rural community workers who are closer to the communities, do not contain provisions for managing allergies. This shows that even though these conditions have been around for a long time, they are relatively new in terms of awareness.
“That is why we are having this conversation, so that we can empower healthcare workers and push for the inclusion of these SOPs.”
In his remarks, the President-elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Professor James Tracy, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to partnering with relevant bodies to share insights on allergic diseases.
He noted that, as a global challenge, allergic diseases require concerted efforts from all stakeholders.
The highlight of the press conference was the unveiling of the World Allergy Training School conference, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, where stakeholders will discuss issues related to allergic diseases.
