The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently held a workshop as part of its Asthma-Friendly Schools Programme, aiming to improve asthma care and management in government schools. Organised in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), the event brought together 117 school health nurses who serve in the government's educational institutions.

This initiative supports the MoPH’s National Chronic Respiratory Diseases Plan 2025–2030, which prioritizes asthma prevention and the care of individuals with asthma in various environments, including schools. The workshop was designed to enhance the capabilities of healthcare and educational professionals in recognising asthma symptoms early, managing asthma attacks effectively, reducing related complications and emergency room visits, and standardising asthma care within schools.

Specialists from MoPH, HMC, and PHCC delivered sessions covering essential aspects of childhood asthma, such as symptom identification, common triggers, and proper response protocols in school settings. Training also included demonstrations on correct inhaler use, measuring peak expiratory flow, adherence to prescribed treatment plans, and methods to strengthen communication and coordination among schools, families, and healthcare providers.

Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani, director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programmes Department at the MoPH, noted that the Asthma-Friendly Schools Programme exemplifies effective cooperation between the health and education sectors. He emphasized its role in raising awareness among school staff and equipping them to support students with asthma safely, ensuring they can participate fully in educational and extracurricular activities.

Experts at the workshop underscored the critical role of school health nurses in continuous monitoring, health education, early intervention, and accurate documentation of care through electronic health records. These efforts contribute to creating a safer and more supportive environment for students with asthma, ultimately improving their health outcomes and quality of life.

The MoPH highlighted the need for ongoing partnerships among healthcare professionals, educational institutions, and families to maintain and enhance asthma awareness and care during school hours. The ministry also called on parents to inform school health nurses if their child has asthma, provide a physician-approved treatment plan, and ensure that necessary medications, including inhalers, are accessible at school.