‘National centre for allergies urgently needed’

AMMAN — The Jordanian Society for Allergy and Immunology of the Jordan Medical Association (JMA) has called for the establishment of a national centre for allergies to contribute to the treatment of citizens suffering from such diesease, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The society’s President Hani Ababneh said that the establishment of a national centre has become an “urgent need” in the light of the medical developments in the Kingdom, noting that the centre will provide services to underprivileged individuals and refugees and will offer training opportunities for students and new doctors. 

Ababneh, who is also an allergist and immunologist consultant, said that the delay in establishing the centre resulted in losing the chance of obtaining a European grant worth JD3 million from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

He highlighted that one third of the people living in Jordan suffer from allergies ranging from hay fever, chest allergies, skin, medicine and pet allergies. 

Allergies are divided into two categories: the spring and olives allergy and permanent ones, the president said.

He stressed the importance of offering EpiPen adrenalin injections to save the lives of chronic allergy patients who are exposed to allergic shocks, noting that these cause the death of 1.5 per cent of chronic allergy patients exposed to allergens. 

He said the injections should be provided in health centres, hospitals, shopping and fitness centres.

Ababneh also called on the Food and Drug Administration to include instructions on materials that cause allergies and to inform the consumer about the allergies these substances can cause.

He outlined the role of genetics in allergies, noting that children have a 40 per cent chance to be allergic if their mother or father is.