Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Smoking Cessation Conference at Ajman University
College of Pharmacy at Ajman University of Science & Technology organized a conference considered first of its kind in UAE about chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease. The conference comes in line with the theme, “COPD learn more and breathe better”.
Prof. Abdul Azim Ahmed, Dean of the College of Pharmacy extended a warm welcome and appreciated all those who made this event possible. He stated, “We are pleased to host this event in the presence of physicians, pharmacists and healthcare professionals from national and regional institutions and hospitals to celebrate the conference on promoting healthy lung through smoking cessation awareness and diagnosis, screening, and prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) in order to promote “Healthy Lung” in the UAE. As you know about 80% smokers develop COPD causing early death. Researchers around the world are trying to reduce incidence of COPD in order to reduce mortality from this disease”.
Dr. Graham Bur Consultant Physician and Associate Academic Staff Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK presented his lecture, about the management of COPD which highlights recent guidelines and researches regarding COPD treatment. In addition, he conducted a workshop about: Arterial Blood Gases, which has been discussed in groups as a problem-based learning in an interactive session.
The conference continued with an interesting lectures delivered by Dr Bassam Mahboub, Chest Consultant, Head of Chest Clinic, Rashid Hospital, MOH, Dubai .He talked about impact of COPD in UAE and promoting healthy lung in the UAE through smoking cessation as he stated that about 80% of smokers develop COPD leading to early death.
Dr. Mohammed Shamssain, Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE had conducted two lectures. The lectures were about “Pharmaceutical care in smoking cessation in the UAE” and “COPD: prevalence, pathophysiology and risk factors”.
Dr. Farah Alhomoud, Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST), Ajman, UAE delivered a lecture. The lectures highlighted her recent research about “Problems with use of inhaler devices among COPD patients”. Her study concluded “Treatment failures are a major concern for COPD patients. Most patients experienced problems with inhalation devices used at home. To improve treatment, continuous education and follow up needs to be done for COPD patients in order to provide all the necessary assistance tailored to each patient who is at high risk of treatment failures and/or experiencing problems”.
The conference recommend great attention to smoking habits as it encourage UAE decision makers to urgently implement strategies to promote smoking cessation. In addition to spreading public awareness about the burden of the disease and the increased risk factors.
