The Australian Government has launched a new information campaign about asthma awareness.
The campaign urges all Australians suffering from asthma to talk to their doctor about a written asthma action plan.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Brett Mason, launched the campaign on May 1 to coincide with World Asthma Day.
The key messages of the two month, print and radio campaign are: ?Plan to stay symptom free? and ?You can with an asthma action plan?.
?Too many people either don?t realise that they have asthma, or don?t realise that they can control it,? Senator Mason said.
?A written asthma action plan developed by the patient with his or her doctor, is an essential part of asthma self management and can reduce the need to visit hospitals and doctors. With good management, most people with asthma can live free from symptoms.?
As part of the campaign, print and radio advertisements will run during May and June and general practitioners will receive an information kit in early May which will include a brochure and poster on asthma.
The Asthma Management Program, which includes the Asthma Cycle of Care initiative is available to general practitioners through the Medicare system.
Please see also the media release for the launch of the campaign.
Further information on the national asthma awareness campaign, including the campaign brochure, poster, print advertisements and radio advertisements, is available at www.australia.gov.au/asthma
HealthInsite has a topic area on Asthma with links to information on the causes and management of asthma.