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News Release

STATEMENT BY TOMMY G. THOMPSON

Secretary of Health and Human Services
Regarding World Asthma Day
May 6, 2003

Tomorrow, on World Asthma Day 2003, we reaffirm our commitment to increase public awareness about the burden that asthma places on all members of our communities, especially on children and African Americans. We also recognize those who are striving to reduce the global burden of asthma and promote better asthma diagnosis and treatment.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the United States. More than 20 million Americans suffer from it, including more than 6 million children. Nearly 5,000 Americans die from asthma each year, and African Americans are the most likely to visit emergency rooms, be hospitalized, and die from asthma. In the year 2000, the asthma death rate for African Americans was 3 times that for non-Hispanic whites.

HHS' National Asthma Education and Prevention Program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is the U.S. Coordinator for World Asthma Day. It has established "Communities Working for Life and Breath" as the national theme to emphasize that asthma affects all members of a community, not just those with the condition, and that all communities must fight this potentially life-threatening condition if progress is to be made.

HHS' "Steps to a HealthierUS" initiative will help in the campaign against asthma. As part of this initiative to prevent asthma, diabetes, and obesity, HHS is supporting community initiatives to achieve healthier lifestyles for hundreds of thousands of Americans. As part of this year's $15 million initiative, we will award grants to support innovative and effective community-based chronic disease prevention and control programs. And for fiscal year 2004, we have requested $125 million for the "Steps to a HealthierUS" initiative.

World Asthma Day contributes to the "Steps to a HealthierUS" goals by increasing public awareness about reducing the impact of asthma. Our activities on this day and throughout the month will facilitate the dialogue on asthma and its public health consequences, the reasons for its increased prevalence, and the association between asthma and the environment

This year, as in the past, your individual participation is critical to making World Asthma Day a success in your community, while your collective participation is crucial to decreasing the global effects of asthma. Therefore, I invite you to join in on May 6th for World Asthma Day 2003 and help support the cause for a healthier America and a healthier world.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: May 5, 2003