Between the dust of the Mokolo market, the exhaust fumes of Douala, and the droppings of bald men-Yaounde mousee –veIn the face of these horrid allergens, thousands of Cameroonians learn to survive every day without proper care. On the occasion of World Asthma Day, May 5, 2026, we delve into a daily life where every breath is a struggle, and where knowledge could save lives.
They have learned to live with an invisible enemy. An enemy lurking in the dust, the mites, the smoke, sometimes even in the droppings of bats.-mice hanging from-above their teworldwide, asthma affects 262 million people and causes 455,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where the under-Diagnosis and the inadequacy of treatments remain problematic.eIn Cameroon, the prevalence in the general population is estimated at between 3 and 4%, but it skyrockets to 7.6% among adolescents and reaches unprecedented levels in certain neighborhoods of Yaoundé, such as Bastos, where 32% of residents suffer from asthma, compared to only 4% in areas unaffected by baldness.-mice. The mortality rateeadjustereached 14.72 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the disease is recurringesente pres of 1% of the decetotals in the country. On this May 5, 2026, World Asthma Day, organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), highlights a fundamental reality: it is possible to live a normal life with asthma, provided it is diagnosed early, treated appropriately, and managed. But in Cameroon, between delayed diagnoses, indiscriminate administration of corticosteroids, and a hostile environment, the path to a normal life too often resembles an obstacle course. Report.
Christine, 29, runs a small smoked fish stall at the Mokolo market in Yaoundé. Asthmatic since the age of 12, she lives with a volatile mix of smoke from neighboring grills, dust, and stifling heat. « I can’t wear a mask, » she admits.–t–she, wiping her forehead. DeWhen I put one on, it feels like someone’s sticking a plastic bag over my head. My heart races, I panic, and the attack hits.Her neighbor at the next table testifies: “I saw her collapse twice behind her stall. We thought she’d fainted. A customer told us it was an asthma attack. We ran to the pharmacy to get some Ventolin.” Christine, a single mother of two, can’t afford to see a pulmonologist. “I take the
pills they give me at the local health center. I don’t even know their names. When the attack passes, I go back to work. You have to eat.”
Paulin, 41, a taxi driver in Douala, breathes exhaust fumes, dust, and humid air all day long. “I developed asthma late, around 35. My family doctor gave me antibiotics for bronchitis. It didn’t do anything.” It was at Jamot Hospital that he received the diagnosis: occupational asthma. Since then, he wears a scarf over his mouth while driving. “But the attack comes when I’m stuck behind a smoking truck for too long.” His wife, Léa, confides: “Every night, I listen for him to cough. If he coughs, I know it’s going to be a rough night. Once, he woke up unable to breathe. I rushed him to the general hospital. He had a severe attack. I didn’t sleep a wink for three days.”
Lucienne, 33, a mother of two, works for a cleaning company in Yaoundé. She hides her asthma for fear of how others will react. “When I had my first attack at work, my colleagues were scared. Some said it was contagious. Others asked me to leave because my wheezing bothered them.” She has been sent home from work sites several times. “My boss told me, ‘You’re fragile, rest.’”–« You. » I lost days of pay.. »
A little-known factor: baldness–Bastos’ mouse
Professor Emmanuel Afane Ze’s study, published in 2013, made a strong impression. In the upscale Bastos neighborhood of Yaoundé, densely populated by bald men-fruit-eating mice, the prethe prevalence of asthma reaches 32%, compared to only 4%hasNgousso,epargneby these animals. »The deejaculations of bald men-Mice, brittle and powdery, turn into dusteres containing a fungus treThe allergen, Histoplasma capsulatum, explains Professor Afane Ze. Dust mites, a well-known cause of asthma, areealso vehicules by these animals.»90% of the inhabitants of Bastos acknowledged the presence of bald men.-mice, versus 4%hasNgousso. Dr. Onana Irène Epse Motogo, a pulmonologist at Jamot Hospital, paints an alarming picture: “Asthma patients often delay seeking help. They are told it’s bronchitis. They receive corticosteroids that calm the attack, but the underlying disease remains undiagnosed.” The Poka-Mayap study (2020) shows that 28.8% of asthma patients consulting at Jamot Hospital are experiencing an exacerbation, and 51.1% are not taking any maintenance treatment.
A glimmer of hope: Kenneth, 18, finds solace in sport.
Yet, there are happy stories. Kenneth Effoudou, 18, a high school student in Yaoundé, has had asthma since childhood. “I decided not to let it get the better of me. I play soccer every week. My attacks are much less frequent.” His sister also has asthma, a predisposition inherited from their grandfather.-peKenneth is following his maintenance treatment and hisethe doctor encourages himhascontinue playing sports. »Asthma doesn’t stop me from living. But you have to take your medication every day and avoid triggers. World Asthma Day 2026 has a simple but essential
theme: « Myths about asthma. » No, asthma isn’t just bronchitis. No, it doesn’t always go away with age. No, sports aren’t forbidden. Yes, you can live a normal life if you’re properly diagnosed and monitored. But that’s not all.-it is essential that treatments are accessible, that the medoctors should be trainedes, and that the environment, of bald people-Bastos’ mouse on the dusty carpetsehollows ofeColes, stops aggravating the disease.HASYaoundeIn Douala and Buea, thousands of families hold their breath every day, lit.eslowly. This May 5th,ecoutons-them. And let’s breathe with them.
Elvis Serge NSAA
