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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Mike Sturla Majority Deputy Whip Chairman, Professional Licensure Committee |
  
CONTACT: Jim Dawes Fax: 717-705-1923 |
House adopts Sturla resolution recognizing May 6 as World Asthma Day
HARRISBURG, May 6 – The state House today unanimously adopted a resolution (H.R. 726) introduced by state Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, that recognizes May 6, 2008, as World Asthma Day in Pennsylvania. This year’s theme is "You Can Control Your Asthma."
"The goal of World Asthma Day is to raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care all across the globe," Sturla said. "As a legislator, I believe we should do more to examine possible factors, like allergens, pollutants, diet, and living conditions, that could increase the risk of asthma."
Last May, Sturla introduced legislation (H.B. 1223) that would create a statewide asthma tracking system to monitor the investigation of factors contributing to the difference in the rates of asthma among different socioeconomic, racial and age groups in Pennsylvania. The bill is currently in the House Health and Human Services Committee.
"While the burden of asthma in the United States has greatly increased over the past two decades, mortality and hospitalizations due to asthma have decreased within the last few years and asthma prevalence has stabilized," Sturla said. "I commend the organizers of World Asthma Day for their vital roles in this improved level of disease management and I look forward to working with them more as we continue our fight against asthma."
First held in 1998 in over 35 countries, World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership, which is managed by the American Lung Association and asthma educators. For more information about GINA and World Asthma Day, go to www.ginasthma.com.
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