National Center for Health Education - Advancing Private-Sector Health Education

National Health Education Week 2001

Asthma Prevention and Awareness

The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) and National Center for Health Education (NCHE) invite you to celebrate National Health Education Week 2001, from October 15-21. The purpose of the week is to bring national focus to a major public health issue and to inform the public about health education's role in promoting the public health. This year focuses on asthma and the theme is Asthma Prevention and Treatment.

Asthma is a growing public health issue among minorities and youth. It is a chronic and debilitating lung disease that affects about 17 million Americans of which 4.8 million are children under the age of 18. Despite these numbers, asthma can be controlled and people can live active, healthy lives with the proper education.

National Health Education Week is recognized and celebrated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is promoted through local SOPHE chapters, NCHE and schools. For further information please contact NCHE at 212-594-8001, ext. 32 or visit www.sophe.org.

NCHE has compiled a packet containing useful information about asthma. The packet includes an Asthma Prevention and Management curriculum to be used for grades K-6, "One-Minute Asthma: What You Need to Know" by Dr. Thomas F. Plaut, resource lists of books, videos and websites regarding asthma and plenty of useful facts and prevention and management tips for asthma. These packets will be distributed to all the schools who participate in Growing Healthy and at the American School Health Association (ASHA) Conference.

NHEW Resources

Asthma Glossary