Highlighting COPD: Media Workshops for Awareness and Action
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health crisis that demands attention. It's the third leading cause of death worldwide, yet it remains largely unknown and underfunded. Every year, over 3.5 million lives are lost to COPD, a statistic that's as shocking as a plane crash with 400 passengers every hour. This is despite the fact that COPD's symptoms, such as cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and tiredness, significantly impact those affected.
This year's World COPD Day theme, "Short of breath, think COPD," emphasizes the importance of recognizing these symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to better clinical outcomes, including improved symptoms, lung function, and quality of life. However, public awareness of COPD remains low due to limited media coverage.
Pace University Center for Global Health is addressing this issue by collaborating with Mr. José Castro, WHO Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, and technical experts from the WHO Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. Through workshops for journalists from major media outlets, Mr. Castro aims to increase COPD awareness and understanding.
"COPD is a 'Cinderella' disease, often overlooked and in the shadows," says Mr. Castro. "This initiative aims to bridge the gap in health journalism by educating reporters about COPD's far-reaching impact on individuals, their families, caregivers, and society. We want to bring COPD into the spotlight, where it deserves the attention it needs."
A recent three-day workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, brought together journalists from Southeast Asian and Western Pacific countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The program covered scientific backgrounds and country-specific COPD data, with insights from individuals living with COPD, civil society organizations, and medical professionals.
Emalin Zalani, a journalist at Star Health, Malaysia, shared her experience: "Before this workshop, I hadn't written about COPD, assuming it was less critical than conditions like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. These sessions have opened my eyes to COPD's hidden burden and the importance of early detection, prevention, and public awareness."
As a result of the workshop, journalists published stories in prominent national news outlets, including the Dhaka Tribune, Philippine Star, One News, Kompas Daily, Indonesia, and Bangkok Post. A similar workshop in Mexico City, Mexico, earlier this year has already boosted reporting on chronic respiratory diseases in national newspapers, radio, and TV.
Further workshops are planned for the African and European regions, with the next training session scheduled for March 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. These initiatives are crucial in bringing COPD into the public eye and ensuring that it receives the attention and funding it desperately needs.
