THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, MARCH 27, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 27, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing May 1, 2012, as "World Asthma Day" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" will take place on May 1, 2012;

and

WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" is organized by the Global

Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with the

Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership to raise awareness about asthma

and improve asthma care throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Each year GINA chooses a theme and organizes

preparation and distribution of "World Asthma Day" materials and

resources; and

WHEREAS, This year the theme for the occasion is "You Can

Control Your Asthma"; and

WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" activities are organized in each

country by health care professionals, educators and members of

the public who want to help reduce the burden of asthma; and

WHEREAS, The first "World Asthma Day" in 1998 was celebrated

in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first world

asthma meeting held in Barcelona, Spain; and

WHEREAS, Participation has increased with each "World Asthma

Day" held since then, and the day has become one of the world's

most important asthma awareness and education events; and

WHEREAS, Many Americans are afflicted with asthma, a serious

chronic lung disease, caused by continual airway inflammation

punctuated by episodes or attacks of increased inflammation

often in response to specific triggers; and

WHEREAS, These attacks, characterized by difficulty in

breathing, occasionally are extreme and constitute a medical

emergency; and

WHEREAS, Over the past two decades, the burden of asthma in

the United States has greatly increased; and 

WHEREAS, More recent data about asthma-related

hospitalizations and mortality appear to indicate that asthma

prevalence has stabilized and improved levels of disease

management have helped to mitigate asthma's effects; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize May 1,

2012, as "World Asthma Day" in Pennsylvania.