Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) in partnership with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health will mobilize thousands of members in 958 chapters nationwide to educate and enlighten the community about how to properly manage and treat childhood asthma. The objective of the unified effort is to educate parents and caregivers of children with asthma and raise their awareness of the medical treatment and management of asthma. Educating and bringing awareness to families may help to reduce the adverse outcomes of asthma among millions of children nationwide who are impacted by this public health problem. Joining in the campaign are eight national organizations and their affiliates who are committed to the mission of the AKA-sponsored program, known as the Asthma Prevention and Management Initiative.

The announcement of the program's media launch will be made by Alpha Kappa Alpha's international president Attorney Carolyn House Stewart and Dr. Yvonne Maddox, deputy director of the NICHD, during a press conference to be held on June 16th at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Representatives from the other partner organizations will also be in attendance to endorse the program and to pledge their support.

At the press conference, Attorney House Stewart and Dr. Maddox will state their commitment to addressing this serious public health problem through outreach to the community. Attorney House Stewart will issue a Call to Action to the membership of AKA and its partners to combine their resources and passions to address this disease. NICHD will lend their scientific expertise in the adaptation of the educational products from the National Asthma Education Prevention Program with permission of its lead agency the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Using these products, active AKA members and its partner organizations will lead the outreach to vulnerable communities by disseminating information to families that will educate them on home management strategies and the appropriate use of medications.

By definition, asthma is a long-term, two-component lung disease. The first component is the inflammation of the airways, which causes narrowing. The second component is the increased mucus production by the cells of the airway. These two components cause reoccurring periods of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma is a potentially debilitating disease; as a result of these reoccurring episodes called “attacks” or exacerbations that can happen when the disease is triggered. It is very important to be able to detect the symptoms of an exacerbation when they first occur. This helps to prevent the symptoms from worsening and causing a severe attack that may require emergency care, hospitalization and may even be fatal.

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPH) reports that tobacco smoke, dust mites, furred and feathered animals, molds, chemicals and strong odors can trigger asthma attacks. However, through proper diagnosis, care and management, the frequency of these attacks can be controlled and asthmatic children can lead productive lives.

The significance of this initiative is underscored by statistics that indicate that minority children are disproportionally vulnerable to this disease. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Office of Minority Health, black children have a 260% higher emergency department visit rate, a 250% higher hospitalization rate, and a 500% higher death rate from asthma, compared to White children. Hispanic children are 60% more likely to have asthma, compared to non-Hispanic White children. Chinese Americans also show a higher asthma rate than the White population. As a result of the significant disparity that exists with childhood asthma, Attorney House Stewart has decided that these populations will be the target audience for the AKA's Asthma Prevention and Management Initiative.

In issuing the Call to Action, Stewart declared, “Too many children are hospitalized, miss school and are prevented from participating in sports as a result of this health condition. However, it can be managed with appropriate treatment. With the involvement of our members and our partners, this program should significantly reduce the incidence of bad outcomes, and enable those with the disease to lead productive, disease-managed lives.”

The initiative will be led by Alpha Kappa Alpha, and NICHD: Our other partner organizations are:
National Consortium for African American Children
National Head Start Association;
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
American Nurses Association
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
The American Lung Association
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The Merck Childhood Asthma Network

The multi-year effort will be spearheaded by Diane L. Adams, MD, MPH, CHS-III, Project Director and member of the Sorority and Brenda A. Leath, MHSA, PMP, Co-Director, President Emeritus, National Consortium for African American Children (NCAAC). Triesta Fowler-Lee, MD, a medical officer at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD in the Public Information and Communications Branch, will work with the Project Directors and serve as the NICHD Liaison to AKA regarding this Initiative.

The Sorority's International Program Committee, which is headed by Sharon Bridges of Jackson, Mississippi, will help coordinate the initiative's implementation throughout the nine domestic AKA regions in the United States. Each region includes a program representative, who is a member of the International Program Committee. Because of the public health concern, Dr. Adams and Ms. Leath have selected nine professionally trained AKA Public Health Ambassadors to assist with the implementation of the Asthma Prevention and Management Initiative. They are: Belinda Morgan-Sterling; Deena Chisolm, PhD; Barbara Smith Nash, MD, MPH; Angela Anglin, MPH; Tracy Hilliard, PhD, MPH; Charlene James, MPH; Olga Kearns Billups, MA; and Expert Consultant and AKA member Polly Sparks Turner, DrPH, MPH, RPH.

Click here for the Asthma Prevention and Management brochure.