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. D25L82BIL/20080S0320R2017 - 3 -