Ontario Lung Association campaign

[chrisw]

I just received this in the mail - I think that is the first general appeal that I have seen by a lung association where COPD is mentioned twice and Asthma only once! Amazing!

Dear Chris Wigley:

More than two million Ontarians suffer from lung diseases, including: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and allergies.

As an organization dedicated to lung health, The Lung Association encourages you to use our simple online advocacy tool to ensure issues of acute and chronic lung health are brought to the forefront during the 2007 Ontario election. This election offers the platform from which to raise awareness about key lung disease issues that need to be addressed at the policy level. We need your involvement to help ensure this happens.

The Lung Association's three key recommendations are:

* Integrate lung disease into the Ontario Government's Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Framework;
* Extend the Asthma Strategy across all parts of the province to further its effectiveness in dealing with this leading health concern;
* Implement immediately a COPD strategy to address the urgent need for screening, treatment and rehabilitation

Please click on the link www.on.lung.ca to learn more about The Lung Association's position during the provincial election, current lung health issues, and importantly, how you can make your views known to your local MPP through this simple, online advocacy program prior to the October 10 election.
As well, if you would like to discuss these issues or ways in which you can assist with our advocacy program, please contact Karen Petcoff in our communications department at 416-864-9911 ext. 283 or by email, [e-mail].

Together we will improve lung health.

Sincerely,

George Habib
President & CEO

[larrynz]

Advocacy is the thing we lack in New Zealand, we are tacked onto the Asthma Society but are the poor cousin.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Larry; we too are "tacked onto".... that's where the $ is raised especially when they use children with asthma as the marketing tool. Not to be mean or anything but let's face it....children sell.

Groups/forums like this, including individual groups (like COPD Canada ww.copdcanada.ca) in individual countries....ALL ads up. Let's face it....even if you go at a HUGE oak tree with a pen knife; over time.......

Do they have any direct "COPD groups" of any sort that you're aware of in New Zealand Larry?

[Joyce7]

Hi Chris--How wonderful to have copd in the forefront. Asthma is very important too, but copd doesn't get the attention that asthma does. I agree with Jackie and Larry in that here copd is a cousin to asthma. Keep us updated please...Joyce

[larrynz]

Do they have any direct "COPD groups" of any sort that you're aware of in New Zealand Larry?
................................................................
Jackie no, only the add on to an Asthma group

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Well heck Larry....maybe you should start one.....you're very "in tune" to COPD and what's going on.

Just a thought.

[the bear]

Larry; Blossom's idea does have a lot of merit. There is no reason that you should not start your own advocacy group. I have been helping spread the word to all our provincial health ministers. It is not really as difficult as it seems and the results go from disappointment to elation when one reaches out to others. Our lung associations here in Canada are fragmented just like our health care system, with each province having their own set of rules and guidelines.

The national lung association has started a National Lung Health Framework and is working on a concrete plan to make lung health care programs a little more cohesive and comprehensive and follow a national guideline. As it is now, each province is doing what they think is necessary. Some do very little and others are doing as much as they can within their bugetary restraints.

You can get a real clear picture of who is doing what by going into the main COPD Canada webpage and viewing the Lung Associations own COPD national gradings province by province.

This same idea should be expanded to all countries. I know at first glance it seems fruitless and unattainable but like any journey it starts with a single idea or step. Like Jackie says "Even a giant oak can be felled with a penknife and perserverance."

Remember the hardest part is getting started. Good luck.

Hugz, as ever, bear.