Plea to Govt over asthma 'epidemic'
The Government must act to tackle the growing number of young people suffering from asthma in Ireland, it was claimed today.
Green Party Health spokesperson, John Gormley, said the party was publishing a paper which put forward 12 proposals to combat asthma and allergies.
Speaking on World Asthma Day, Mr Gormley said: “Asthma affects at least one in five Irish children.
“In 1995 it was one in seven and this figure has now risen steadily to one in five according to 2003 figures.
“The Green Party believes that it is time to seriously tackle this growing epidemic.”
The Green Party paper outlines a number of proposals to combat the condition, including the collection of data on allergic conditions, and the training of medical staff to prevent anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction to allergens such as nuts, bee stings or penicillin.
The party is also calling on the Government to draw up guidelines for schools to cope with children with asthma and allergies and to develop early testing and diagnosis.
In addition, they are calling for a network of allergy treatment centres to be developed and the launch of a public information campaign highlighting the issues of indoor pollution.
Up to 20% of Europeans suffer from asthma as a result of substances inhaled indoors, the Green Party said.
“The Government should also bring pressure to bear on the manufacturers of paint and building materials to ensure that their products are environmentally friendly,” Mr Gormley said.
To mark World Asthma Day the Asthma Society of Ireland organised a tightrope walking stunt across the Liffey in Dublin to highlight that the total control of asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing and night time waking, is achievable.
Eibhlin Mulroe, chief executive of the Asthma Society, said: “Asthma is a treatable condition – so why are 80 to 100 Irish people still dying of an asthma attack each year?
“Our objective for World Asthma Day is to raise expectations of asthma sufferers about the level of control and quality of life they can achieve.”
According to the Asthma Society an estimated 470,000 people in Ireland suffer from the respiratory condition and only 8% have their symptoms under control.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine suggested that it is possible for asthmatics to keep their condition totally under control, the society said.
