Space to Breathe deserves praise

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
Media statement
For immediate release

15 April, 2009

Space to Breathe deserves praise

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation strongly supports PHARMAC’s Space to Breathe campaign, being launched today in Taranaki.

‘A really important aspect of the campaign is carers – in this case early childhood teachers –engaging with kids and providing very basic lessons on breathing. This has a special relevance for Maori kids, who this campaign targets, because they are being hospitalised and dying from asthma at much higher rates than their non-Maori peers,’ says Foundation Executive Director, Jane Patterson.

The campaign involves two main elements: an education campaign at preschools and a decision making tool for GPs and other health professionals to use when consulting with children with asthma and their carers.

The education programme – starting with a Taranaki pilot of 20 kohanga reo and 5 early childhood centres – involves kids being read picture books, singing songs and participating in demonstrative exercises such as blowing up a balloon and breathing through a straw to emulate breathlessness and learning about asthma triggers. Asthma experts, educators and local Maori will collaborate to develop a syllabus and ‘train the trainers’: the teachers and families of these very young children.

The decision making tool comes in the form of software being rolled out in medical centres across the country that helps professionals follow best practice when talking to patients with asthma.

‘This is wonderful,’ Jane says. ‘We need to enable our health professionals to follow best practice with as much certainty as possible. We all need to work smarter when it comes to following asthma best practice to manage asthma well and avoid serious exacerbations. This tool will help many children lead better, healthier lives.’

‘PHARMAC’s campaign fits in well with the Foundation’s Balloon Day campaign’

Schools including preschools, pharmacies, DHBs, medical centres, participating Mitre 10 stores and public libraries across the country will be holding events to increase asthma awareness and raise funds for child asthma research on and around Balloon Day on Saturday 9 May 2009. Asthma Awareness Week runs from 4 to 10 May.

‘This work with young kids, teaching them about healthy breathing, complements well what we say to parents of kids with asthma…that you can help your child considerably by making sure that they have a child asthma plan, that they get an influenza vaccine and use their preventer as well as their reliever inhaler for starters. And, let your GP know if you’ve got concerns about your child’s asthma because it keeps them up at night or limits their activities in any way,’ Jane says.

‘We need to work preventatively and treat asthma more effectively to keep our kids out of hospital this coming winter and not add to the drastic pressure our hospitals are already under.’..

About 1 in 4 Kiwi kids has asthma and the illness is the leading reason for children and young people in New Zealand being hospitalised.

ENDS

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