NEWS RELEASE
May 2, 2000

Engler Declares May 3 as Asthma Day 2000 in Michigan

 

Governor John Engler has declared May 3 as Asthma Day 2000 in Michigan to increase awareness about the risks of asthma and highlight those who work to reduce the pain and suffering caused by asthma among all Michigan citizens.

"Michigan's response to asthma has been considerable, including the formation of ten local asthma coalitions, and the development of case management and patient education programs proven to improve patients' health and lives," said Engler. "I am pleased to join the Michigan Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation and the American Lung Association of Michigan, in the celebration of World Asthma Day."

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease, being the number one cause of preventable hospitalization in Michigan children and causing more school absences than any other chronic childhood disease. In Michigan, 3.4 percent of all adults and 8 percent of children have asthma resulting in 17,850 hospitalizations of Michigan residents each year.

Globally, the economic costs of asthma are estimated to be greater than those of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined and in the U.S. alone, asthma treatment costs an estimated $11.3 billion annually. Death rates are still substantial in the United States, with rates doubling since the early 1980s to 5,000 asthma related deaths per year.

"The State of Michigan is pleased to be supporting the Michigan Asthma Strategic Planning Initiative's development of a statewide plan for reducing the mortality and morbidity of asthma," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr.

The Global Initiative on Asthma and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes have declared May 3, 2000 to be World Asthma Day, with a theme of "Let Everyone Breathe".