WHO And EFA Call For Global Action On Chronic Respiratory Disease

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 12 Jun 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases (EFA) today announced that they are bringing together over 150 international delegates to discuss the growing epidemic of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) that affects one billion people worldwide1, [2], [3] and is responsible for four million deaths annually1. The conference which will discuss the implementation of a five-year initiative to unite policy makers, providers and patient groups will be hosted by the Italian Ministry of Health in Rome on June 12 and 13.

EFA and the WHO Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) are working for and with respiratory disease patients for a world where everyone breathes freely. The conference will look into the role of patient organisations and the implementation of the GARD Action Plan 2008-2013 within the framework of the WHO's Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2008-2013. The action plan shows that there is a clear need for collaboration between health policy makers, providers and patient organisations to improve care and the environment and the integration of health concerns into all policies [4]. By joining forces of European patient associations through EFA with GARD, this major alliance has become a global influence through a strong united patients' voice in all five continents.

Presenting at the conference will be leading respiratory expert, Jean Bousquet, Professor of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Montpellier and Chairman of WHO GARD: "The burden of allergy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Europe and the rest of world is such that the cost of inaction is unacceptable and the WHO has recognised the enormous human suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, and are therefore making CRD one of its priorities between 2008-13."

Marianella Salapatas, Acting President, EFA: "Our overall message to policy makers and the new European Parliament and Commission is that chronic respiratory diseases such as allergy, asthma and COPD are public health problems and we therefore need innovative and comprehensive strategies and collaboration, including with patient organisations, to fight against and improve care and the environment."

Italian MEP Cristina Muscardini will be contributing to the opening presentations: "In the EU, chronic respiratory diseases are significant public health issues despite the availability of treatment options and in some cases, prevention strategies. EU Health Strategy needs to take the burden on chronic respiratory diseases into consideration."

One billion people in the world currently suffer from CRDs1,2,3 and every year four million people die as a result, a figure higher than for deaths related to other global diseases such as AIDS1. The fact that this epidemic is on the rise4 and that every person in the world is exposed to the risk factors of CRD [5], [6], [7], [8] has been the key motivator to bring together delegates from around the world to attend this important conference.

References

[1] Bousquet J, Khaltaev N. Global surveillance, prevention and control of Chronic Respiratory Diseases. A comprehensive approach. Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases. World Health Organisation. ISBN 978 92 4 156346 8. 2007:148 pages

[2] Bousquet PJ, Leynaert B, Neukirch F, Sunyer J, Janson CM, Anto J, et al. Geographical distribution of atopic rhinitis in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I. Allergy. 2008 Oct;63(10):1301-9

[3] Weinmayr G, Forastiere F, Weiland SK, Rzehak P, Abramidze T, Annesi-Maesano I, et al. International variation in prevalence of rhinitis and its relationship with sensitisation to perennial and seasonal allergens. Eur Respir J. 2008 Nov;32(5):1250-61

[4] 2008-2013 Action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of non communicable diseases. Prevent and control cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes. http://www.who.int/nmh/Actionplan-PC-NCD-2008.pdf, Accessed 20 May 2009

[5] United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA). State of the world population 2007. wwwunfpaorg. 2007.

[6] Torres-Duque C, Maldonado D, Perez-Padilla R, Ezzati M, Viegi G. Biomass Fuels and Respiratory Diseases: A Review of the Evidence. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008 Jul;5(5):577-90.

[7] Esson K, Leeder S. The Millennium Development Goals and Tobacco Control. An opportunity for global partnership. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation, http://www.who.int/tobacco; 2003.

[8] Balmes J, Becklake M, Blanc P, Henneberger P, Kreiss K, Mapp C, et al. American Thoracic Society Statement: Occupational contribution to the burden of airway disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Mar 1;167(5):787-97.

[9] World Health Organisation, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, http://www.who.int/respiratory/en/index.html, Accessed 20 May 2009

Sources
http://www.efanet.org
http://www.who.int/gard/en/index.html

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