By Kefiloe Kajane
As per World Health Organisation regulations, it is necessary for people to wear masks whenever they are in public.
However, this has proved to be quite a challenge for people who are asthmatic as they complain that masks choke them.
‘Mampho Mpobole of Quthing, who is asthmatic, says it is difficult for her to have a mask on for more than five minutes. She said the mask suffocates her and she feels like she is out of breath.
She says although she is aware that the mask is meant to protect her from the corona virus, she feels like in a way it makes even more sick because of her asthma.
“Whenever I am wearing a mask, I have to use my inhaler often because I struggle to breathe. It is even worse when I go shopping because in the shops we are not allowed to enter without masks so it is very difficult for me,” Mpobole explained.
She says she feels sorry for all people who are asthmatic like her and have to go through all those challenges.
According to a study by WHO, people with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of getting very sick from Covid19. COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs), cause an asthma attack, and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease.
Dr Llang Maama from the Ministry of Health’s Non-Communicable Diseases Department agreed to this, saying people who are asthmatic or have any lung diseases can have difficulties when it comes to wearing masks as their lungs already have a problem to breath on their own.
She said the only solution for these kind of people is to always isolate themselves as they are already at risk of viruses likes Covid19.
In Lesotho, it is a must that every citizen should wear a mask when they are in public. The country has so far registered four cases with two recoveries.
