GSK is supporting World Asthma Day, to be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, to raise awareness of the condition. This year’s theme is ‘You Can Control Your Asthma’.
Asthma causes 180,000 deaths each year. According to the latest European Health Interview Survey, the disease affects 9% of the Maltese population. It cannot be cured, but when asthma is controlled people can avoid troublesome symptoms, with little or no reliever medication and lead productive, physically active lives with near normal lung function.
GSK has been supporting patients to achieve asthma control for over 40 years through research and medicines and contributed to the development of the Asthma Control Test, a simple test to help people assess their level of asthma control. The test provides a useful score which helps patients and doctors determine the level of treatment required and is available free of charge at www.asthmacontroltest.com
On Tuesday 6 May 2014, as part of World Asthma Day, the Maltese Asthmatic Society (SAM) is addressing the latest medical advice on asthma during a conference which is being held free of charge for the public at the Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana. The conference speakers include the Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Chris Fearne, Shadow Minister for Health Mr Claudio Grech, Director of the Health and Disease Prevention Directorate Dr Charmaine Gauci and health specialists Dr Etienne Grech and Dr Martin Balzan.
More information about asthma, World Asthma Day and proper asthma management is also available on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) website www.ginasthma.org
