PRINTER'S NO. 2017
No. 320 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, SCARNATI, PILEGGI, STACK, STOUT, PUNT,
RAFFERTY, FERLO, C. WILLIAMS, BRUBAKER, BOSCOLA, O'PAKE,
FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, KASUNIC, BAKER, ARMSTRONG, MUSTO,
ERICKSON, WASHINGTON, COSTA, PIPPY, WONDERLING, EARLL,
FOLMER, GREENLEAF, LOGAN, DINNIMAN, FUMO, KITCHEN, ROBBINS,
A. WILLIAMS AND LAVALLE, MAY 5, 2008
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 5, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing May 6, 2008, as "World Asthma Day 2008" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day 2008" will take place on May 6,
4 2008; and
5 WHEREAS, This year's event will continue the focus on the
6 positive theme introduced for World Asthma Day 2007, "You Can
7 Control Your Asthma"; and
8 WHEREAS, This theme is consistent with the emphasis on asthma
9 control set out in the latest versions of the Global Initiative
10 for Asthma (GINA) guideline documents and will help to spread
11 the word that asthma control is the goal of treatment and can be
12 achieved in the vast majority of asthma patients with proper
13 management; and
14 WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" is organized by GINA in
15 collaboration with the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership to raise
16 awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the
1 world; and
2 WHEREAS, Each year GINA chooses a theme and organizes
3 preparation and distribution of "World Asthma Day" materials and
4 resources; and
5 WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" activities are organized in each
6 country by health care professionals, educators and members of
7 the public who want to help reduce the burden of asthma; and
8 WHEREAS, The first "World Asthma Day" in 1998 was celebrated
9 in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first world
10 asthma meeting held in Barcelona, Spain; and
11 WHEREAS, Participation has increased with each "World Asthma
12 Day" held since then, and the day has become one of the world's
13 most important asthma awareness and education events; and
14 WHEREAS, Many Americans are afflicted by asthma, a serious
15 chronic lung disease, caused by continual airway inflammation
16 punctuated by episodes or attacks of increased inflammation
17 often in response to specific triggers; and
18 WHEREAS, These attacks, characterized by difficulty in
19 breathing, occasionally are extreme and constitute a medical
20 emergency; and
21 WHEREAS, Over the past two decades, the burden of asthma in
22 the United States has greatly increased; however, within the
23 last few years, mortality and hospitalizations due to asthma
24 have decreased and asthma prevalence has stabilized, possibly
25 indicating an improved level of disease management; and
26 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership is comprised of
27 dedicated professionals, consumers, pharmacies, environmental
28 groups, nonprofit organizations, respiratory therapists,
29 registered nurses, insurance providers, Medicaid providers,
30 medical centers, local asthma coalitions, physicians, community
20080S0320R2017 - 2 -
1 health centers, a Statewide epidemiologist and State agencies;
2 and
3 WHEREAS, Partners will work on short-term, medium-term and
4 long-term outcomes that when implemented, can be measured; and
5 WHEREAS, The ultimate goal of these efforts is to decrease
6 asthma morbidity, mortality and costs and to increase the
7 quality of life for those with asthma; and
8 WHEREAS, The mission of the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership
9 is to partner collaboratively in the dedication of expertise and
10 resources in the ongoing development and implementation of a
11 sustainable Statewide asthma plan that expands and improves the
12 quality of asthma care and management, education, awareness,
13 prevention and surveillance and seeks to eliminate the
14 disproportionate burden that asthma places on racial and ethnic
15 minorities and low-income residents of this Commonwealth;
16 therefore be it
17 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize May 6, 2008, as "World
18 Asthma Day 2008" in Pennsylvania.
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