Lt. Governor Brown, Baltimore Ravens and DHMH Partner to Launch Maryland ‘Winning with Asthma’ Program
BALTIMORE, MD (October 21, 2008) – Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and the Baltimore Ravens launched the Maryland “Winning with Asthma” program today. Brown was joined outside M&T Bank Stadium for the program launch by rookie Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura, Edmondson-Westside High School Varsity Football Coach Dante Jones and Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers. Representatives from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and AstraZeneca were also on hand to speak of their technical and corporate support for the program.
‘Winning with Asthma’ is an online program that trains coaches, physical education teachers and parents in asthma management. As many as one out of 15 youth athletes has asthma and this program will provide coaches with the education to identify and manage their players’ asthma symptoms.
“Few chronic diseases touch as many Maryland families as asthma. According to the Center for Disease Control, asthma is the third-leading cause of hospitalization for kids under 15,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “‘Winning with Asthma’ will help us keep our student athletes healthy and safe and will provide our youth coaches with the necessary training to help athletes with asthma thrive on the football field, the basketball court, or the soccer pitch.”
Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura spoke about his personal experience as an athlete who thrived on the football field despite having asthma. He noted that youth athletes with asthma can excel in sports if they understand the symptoms of asthma.
“I am happy to help raise awareness about asthma in youth sports,” said Nakamura “Too often, this chronic condition goes unnoticed by the public.”
In 2006, nearly 10,000 Marylanders, including more than 3,000 youth, were hospitalized because of illnesses associated with asthma. That same year, 44,000 Marylanders visited an emergency room because of asthma, 21,000 of them under the age of 18. Asthma-related hospitalization cost Marylanders $57 million in 2006 and asthma-related emergency room visits cost Marylanders an additional $27 million. An average of 81 Marylanders die each year because of symptoms caused by asthma. Between 2002 and 2006, 27 Maryland children died from symptoms associated with asthma.
“Kids should not have to sit on the sidelines because they have unmanaged asthma,” said Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John M. Colmers. “Thanks to the Baltimore Ravens and the ‘Winning with Asthma: Coach’s Clipboard Program,’ Maryland’s youth sports coaches will have the tips they need to help get kids back on the field and back in the game.”
Asthma remains one of the most disparate chronic diseases in Maryland and nationally. African American children suffer from asthma at a disparate rate when compared to white, Hispanic and Asian children. In Maryland, African American children are four times more likely to visit the emergency room and three times more likely to be hospitalized because of asthma-related symptoms than white children. A similar disparity exists between black and white adults. In all, the asthma disparity between whites and blacks costs Maryland Medicaid an additional $2 million each year.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is leading several efforts to manage the effects of chronic asthma and address the disease’s disparate nature.
The Maryland Asthma Control Program (MACP) addresses asthma from a public health perspective by conducting asthma surveillance, developing a statewide asthma plan, implementing asthma interventions and forging partnerships to reduce the burden of asthma in the State. Since 2003, the MACP has published annual surveillance reports to guide program activities. In addition, Maryland has established a statewide Asthma Control Plan that has sought input from the Maryland Asthma Coalition. The MACP has hosted two Asthma Access Summits, in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, in May and June, respectively, of 2008.
With support from the MACP, the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning has initiated the Breathe Easy program. This outreach program works to address racial disparities and access to care issues associated with asthma education, prevention, and treatment. MACP funding supports key outreach, education and awareness programs, including the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital Breathmobile Program, the Baltimore City Childhood Asthma Program, and a Latino Health Initiative in Montgomery County. MACP has also partnered with Maryland State Department of Education to develop asthma management guidelines that allow students with asthma to fully participate in school activities, including athletics.
The MACP is currently working with the Environmental Health Coordination Program, the Maryland College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine to establish a pilot program for reporting of occupational asthma cases and education of practitioners regarding occupational asthma.
“I don’t ever want to lose a game with my star player on the bench because of asthma,” said Edmondson-Westside Varsity Football Coach Dante Jones. “‘Winning with Asthma’ will help me manage my players’ asthma so they can stay on the field. More importantly, though, this program could save a player’s life and I hope my fellow coaches join me and sign up with ‘Winning with Asthma.’”
‘Winning with Asthma’ has partnered with the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) through corporate support with AstraZeneca. Lt. Governor Brown currently serves as NLGA Treasurer.
[ Read Lt. Governor's Remarks ]