The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), California Chapter, applauds Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Mike DeWine (R-OH) who recently introduced the Family Asthma Act of 2005 to address the unmet need for better asthma control and management, particularly in underserved populations.

The Family Asthma Act authorizes $18 million in each of fiscal years 2006-2010 for pilot prevention and intervention research projects administered by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), an expansion of activities by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), better mechanisms to coordinate Federal asthma-related activities, and new training grants for asthma care providers and education specialists.

Nearly 20 million Americans, including over 6 million children are diagnosed with asthma, and African Americans and certain Hispanic populations are disproportionately affected. Asthma prevalence is projected to reach a rate of 1 in 14 Americans and will affect 1 in 5 families by the year 2020. The National Heart Lung Blood Institute at the NIH estimates the annual cost of asthma in the U.S. in 2004 was over $16 billion.

How AAFA Helps with the Breathmobile® 

The California Chapter of AAFA sponsors the Breathmobile®, an asthma clinic on wheels that provides free diagnosis, treatment and education to high-risk children with asthma at their school site. 

Breathmobile® patient Xavier, an 18-year-old high school senior has had asthma since he was a baby. Xavier has been hospitalized for his asthma seven times. His mother, Deborah, says it was very upsetting to see her son in intensive care with tubes in his arms and a mask on his face.

Deborah says the Breathmobile® program has changed Xavier's life. He now knows how to control his asthma by taking his prescribed medications. And he hasn't missed a day of school since he started working with the Breathmobile® medical staff. 

Both the Breathmobile® and the Family Asthma Act support education and outreach initiatives to help people better understand and control their asthma. Health education programs that focus on teaching patients and their families about asthma are proven methods and can make a big difference in the lives of patients. AAFA has community outreach and education programs to help children, adults and health care providers. 

ABOUT AAFA

The Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), is the premier organization for those who suffer. AAFA is a non-profit voluntary health agency dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with asthma and allergies through education, advocacy and community outreach.