Prof. Greg Erhosa, the National President of Nigerian Thoracic Society, says no fewer than 15 million Nigerians are suffering from asthma, tuberculosis and other chest-related diseases.

Erhosa announced this while addressing newsmen at an annual national conference of the society in Ilorin on Saturday.

Erhosa, who works with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, attributed the high number of Nigerians suffering from asthma and other chest diseases to lack of preventive measures.

According to him, asthma is chronic disease which has claimed lives of several eminent Nigerians and the downtrodden.

He called for establishment of thoracic health centres in each of the six geo-political zones to address the disease and other chest related ailments.

Erhosa urged the three tiers of government in the country to set aside fund for the prevention and care of chest-related problem among Nigerians.

He also canvassed for the recruitment of more experts in chest-related problem who would be in charge of preventive and cure of the diseases.

According to him, preventing the disease is not as expensive as treating it.

He said that the society would collaborate with American Thoracic Society and Africa Thoracic Society to eliminate tuberculosis, asthma and other chest-related problem.

The annual conference was attended by several medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other medical personnel from various teaching hospitals in the country. (NAN)