Equivalent of everyone in Johnsonville with asthma

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
Media Statement
For immediate use by Wellington media

30 April, 2009

The equivalent of everyone in Johnsonville with asthma

An estimated 23 000 kids in Wellington have asthma – about the population of Johnsonville– the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says.

‘The Foundation is making a point this Asthma Awareness Week, 4 to 10 May, 2009 of applying some of the asthma figures to towns and regions, to get across the drastic impact that asthma has on our communities and our people,’ says Foundation Communications Manager, Malcolm Aitken.

‘About 1 in 4 Kiwi kids has asthma and we estimate that in Wellington alone 55 000 school days are lost to asthma each year. That’s a huge negative impact. Asthma is the leading reason for kids and young people being hospitalised in New Zealand and this puts an enormous strain on our hospitals when they are already under so much pressure,’ Malcolm says.

‘Asthma Awareness Week and the events day Balloon Day [on 9 May, 2009] increase asthma awareness and raise vital funds for child asthma research. We need to fund research into better treatments. We are asking Wellingtons to think of the simple pleasure of blowing up a balloon and how 1 in 4 Kiwi kids can’t even enjoy this because asthma will not let them. We need your support for Balloon Day and Asthma Awareness Week.’

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