Breathe Hawke's Bay spreads message for World Asthma Day

It is an epidemic that many pay little attention to, but something health professionals are urging people to take action on.

In the past year, three children have died from asthma and other respiratory-related issues in Hawke's Bay alone. On average 63 people die from asthma each year in the country, which equates to more than one a week.

About 25,000 people in Hawke's Bay have asthma, and 1 in 7 children are taking asthma medication.

In light of this, a range of events have been organised for World Asthma Day today to raise awareness of asthma in the community.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ are launching a new Teachers' Asthma Toolkit which can be accessed via an interactive website; www.learnaboutlungs.org.nz - a first for New Zealand.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ CEO, Letitia O'Dwyer said asthma and respiratory diseases were two of the leading causes of sickness and death in New Zealand.

"Asthma is a big issue for us here in New Zealand. If you look at the facts it doesn't make for great reading. One in seven children, and one in nine adults have asthma here."

To mark World Asthma Day, six Hawke's Bay schools are among the 90 around the country who will take part in fun and educational activities utilising balloons, which are a simple and effective way to educate about breathing.

Breathe Hawke's Bay, formerly Asthma Hawke's Bay see more than 700 people a year for asthma and other respiratory-related problems.

From what started in someone's garage, the agency now has four nurses who serve the region by offering a multitude of services; including home visits, work-force development, upskilling practice nurses or health professionals in respiratory disease, visiting schools and sports clubs and much more.

Breathe Hawke's Bay clinical nurse manager, Julie Shaw said the quality of housing, and access to GPs had a lot to do with it.

"We've got quite poor housing and definitely in these pockets in Hawke's Bay it seems to be worse, whether that is the housing or socio economic climate."

Te Kupenga Hauora – Ahuriri social worker Hinerangi Wilson knows this only too well.

Now in a warm home, she found herself first in a cold and damp home for four years and then out on the streets.

After being referred to Breathe Hawke's Bay by one of the nurses at her work in October, she was diagnosed with chronic asthma.

"I had been on so much medication and I had just had enough of it," she said.

She was being admitted to ED up to six times a year and her asthma was triggered by everything from the temperature to the smell of cigarettes.

"The quality of life is a lot better than what it was before and I am a lot happier now because I used to be quite sick and stressed," she said. "I have ongoing support from Breathe Hawke's Bay which has been fantastic."

Their main drive is Breathe Better September, which incorporates Balloon Day, with money raised going to their exercise subsidy.

The charitable trust has a contract with the Hawke's Bay District Health Board, but receives other funding through community grants and their street appeal.

For more information visit: https://breathehb.co.nz/ or call 0800 ASTHMA.