LEGON, ACCRA – May 5, 2026 The PRESEC Legon Assembly Hall roared with “Asthma Cannot Stop Me” today as Asthma Ghana marked World Asthma Day 2026, with 600 students from six senior high schools in attendance.
Prof. Victor Wutor, Founder & Executive Director of Asthma Ghana, launches World Asthma Day under the theme: “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need.”
Pharm Charles Kwaku Annor, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Greater Accra Region, served as Guest Speaker. “The blue inhaler is not your friend. It’s your fire extinguisher,” Pharm Annor said. “The brown anti-inflammatory inhaler is your insurance. You use it daily, so you don’t burn out. Know your medicines. Demand the right inhaler at your school clinic and at the pharmacy.”
Professor (Mrs.) Smile Gavua Dzisi, Deputy Director-General of GES, charged students to act: “Listen carefully. Learn the facts. And become ambassadors in your dorms, your classes, and your homes. GES is committed to safe schools where every child with asthma can breathe, learn, and lead.”
Hajia Katumi Natogmah Attah, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Education at GES, addressed stigma directly. “Do not hide your inhaler. Do not be shy to use it. Your life is more important than what people say,” she said. “As Regional Director, I will ensure our school heads take this seriously. Every clinic must be ready. Every teacher must know what to do.”
Cipla, a major pharmaceutical company, was represented by Emmanuel Frimpong, who led students through practical breathing exercises. Students used straws to simulate airway narrowing during an asthma attack, helping them appreciate the physical impact of asthma on their health. “When you breathe through a straw, you feel what your classmate with asthma feels during an attack,” Frimpong explained. “That’s why the anti-inflammatory preventer matters. It keeps the airway open before the straw gets too small.”
The program assembled students and staff from PRESEC Legon, Accra Girls SHS, Achimota School, West Africa SHS, Kwabenya Community SHS, Accra Girls SHS and Legon PRESEC Staff School under the GINA theme: “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need.”
Prof. Victor Wutor said SHS campuses are “ground zero” for the access crisis. “1 in 12 Ghanaian teens has asthma, but Korle Bu data shows fewer than 20% use an anti-inflammatory preventer inhaler. Everyone knows the blue reliever. Few have the brown inhaler that stops attacks before they start.”
Why SHS? Why Now?
Prof. Wutor called dorms “trigger zones”: dust, Harmattan, mosquito coils, and exam stress. Asthma accounts for 12% of pediatric emergency admissions at KATH during the Harmattan. “Blue inhalers put out fires. Anti-inflammatory inhalers prevent them,” he said.
Pharm Annor confirmed that both salbutamol reliever and beclomethasone anti-inflammatory preventer inhalers are on NHIS. A month’s preventer costs GH¢15–25. One emergency admission costs over GH¢800. “The drugs exist. The policy exists. Pharmacists across Greater Accra are ready to dispense,” Pharm Annor said. “The gap is at the school clinic.”
Prof. Dzisi confirmed GES will close that gap: “No child should miss WASSCE because they couldn’t breathe.” Hajia Attah added that Regional Education Offices will audit clinic stocks starting next term.
Asthma Ghana is embarking on a project to establish Asthma Clubs in Senior High Schools in Ghana. Asthma Clubs will fight stigmatization in our schools and give students the power to improve their quality of life, Prof. Wutor said. Clubs will train Peer Champions to ensure every asthmatic student has and uses an anti-inflammatory inhaler, teach technique, and run “Dorm Defence” drives.
“Odadeɛ, you gave Ghana presidents and NSMQ trophies,” Prof. Wutor said. “Today, give Ghana the first generation where every asthmatic has a preventer. Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma starts here. Asthma Cannot Stop Me starts here.”
The Legon Declaration
The 6 schools presented the “Legon Declaration on Teen Asthma” to GES and MoH:
1. Stock anti-inflammatory inhalers in every SHS clinic by August 2026, not just relievers.
2. “Preventer Before PE” Rule: All diagnosed students get daily anti-inflammatory inhaler + blue inhaler before sports.
3. Dorm Audits: GES to check inhaler availability during inspections.
Student Voice
Maame Esi, 17, Accra Girls SHS: “I only had blue. Prof. Wutor said, “asthma is not curable but can be managed for me to lead a normal life. Pharm Annor explained I need brown daily. Mr. Frimpong’s straw exercise showed me why. Hajia Attah said, “Don’t be shy.” Prof. Dzisi said to be an ambassador. I will. Asthma cannot Stop Me now.”
Coach Nii, PE: If anti-inflammatory preventers are urgent, my athletes need them before they get to the track or gym.
The Cost of Access
“One SHS Asthma Club kit costs GH¢2,500,” Prof. Wutor said. GH¢50,000 stocks 20 SHS. That is access. That is fighting stigma. He called on corporate bodies to support SHSs by providing Asthma Club kits as part of their CSR.
Know the Difference
Blue inhaler = Reliever: Emergency only.
Brown/Orange inhaler = Anti-inflammatory Preventer: Daily use. Stops attacks. This is the urgent need.
About Asthma Ghana
Asthma Ghana is a Charity that helps people to breathe so they can live freely. We work with people with asthma, their family and friends, health professionals, researchers and governments. We find the best treatments and practices to make life with asthma as good as it can be. Asthma Ghana’s principal mission is to connect people affected by asthma to resources and sources of support.
For help: Asthma Ghana Helpline:
Phone: 0546829126
Email: [email protected]
