School asthma clubs to cut absenteeism

NST: IPOH: Asthma Clubs may make their debut in schools to minimise absenteeism among students.
The Perak Chest Society is looking into setting up the clubs to help students who have asthma cope with it.
If the move becomes a reality, the Asthma Clubs will be the first of their kind in the country.
"There is no database on the prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren. We are conducting a survey at SK Perempuan Methodist and SMK Perempuan Methodist in Ipoh to get feedback on how serious the sickness is among students," said Perak Chest Society president Dr Leong Oon Keong.
"We will identify students who have been diagnosed and those who may suffer from asthma based on the symptoms they have."
The proposed Asthma Clubs are part of the society’s Asthma Friendly School programme.
He said once the society had obtained feedback from the schools, it would brief the education department about the proposed project.
"We want to inculcate self management of the ailment among students as asthma is incurable," he said, adding that students, parents, guardians, teachers and doctors would participate in the clubs.
Dr Leong was speaking after attending the launch of an Emergency Asthma Management Course at a private hospital here on Saturday.
Perak MCA English Bureau chairman Datuk Thong Fah Chong was the guest of honour at the course, which was attended by 150 participants in conjunction with World Asthma Day on May 1.
Thong said the course provided basic knowledge on how to recognise impending attacks.
It also provided tips on how to manage an acute asthma attack before expert medical assistance was available.
"It is hoped that in the future, with the assistance of the Asthma Council of Malaysia and the Malaysian Thoracic Society, the course will be developed into a certificate course similar to the basic life support course."