World Asthma Day Celebrated

World Asthma day was celebrated May 2nd. The goal of World Asthma Day is to raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the world. Staff of the Miramichi Community Asthma/COPD clinic marked the day by holding an information display in the lobby of the Miramichi Regional Hospital. The asthma program nurse and respiratory therapist were available to answer questions from the general public.

Two million Canadians live with asthma, 60,000 in the province of New Brunswick alone. Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe. At its worst, asthma can be fatal; every year, asthma kills about 500 Canadians. Asthma can’t be cured, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

The Miramichi Community Asthma/COPD clinic is a population based program that provides disease management skills and education support for individuals (both children and adults) with asthma/ COPD and their families. Two-hundred and twenty clients received service at the clinic from April 2005 to March 2006. The goal of the clinic is to empower patients, through education, to achieve control of their asthma/COPD and improve their quality of life.

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