Asthmatic patients at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva beamed with smiles yesterday.

This was after Fiji National University acting vice-chancellor, Professor Ian Rouse donated  valve spacers and asthma thermometers to the hospital. The equipment was worth $30,000.

Vilisi Khan, 55, had been living with asthma for 33 years.

She said she always depend on asthma inhalers (pump) and herbal medicines.

“This donation will greatly assist us, especially with the equipment that will be given to us compared to the usual pumps that we have,” Ms Khan said.

Lila Wati, 60, another patient, said the sickness could not be cured.

She has been living with asthma for 30 years.

“Every day I have it and face difficulty in breathing. I am very thankful to Professor Rouse for thinking of us in donating this equipment.”

Meanwhile, Professor Rouse said the sickness could be managed if people worked together.

“To make a difference, everyone needs to work together to fight asthma because it is a problem, however it can be managed,” he said.

On average, the hospital records 15 to 20 cases of patients suffering from asthma in a week.

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