HEALing Asthma in New Orleans

About Asthma in New Orleans

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects an estimated 4.8 million children under the age of 18. Despite modern treatment methods and a deep understanding of the disease mechanism, asthma has been on the rise since the 1980’s. Indeed, in the U.S. alone, asthma has increased by 74%. Perhaps even more distressing is the increase in deaths due to asthma in recent years. From 1979 to 1987, asthma related deaths have increased by 6.2% each year.

In New Orleans asthma is an even worse problem and is more than 3 times higher than in the rest of the nation and is believed to be the number one cause of school absences accounting for nearly 20 million lost school days each year.

Needless to say, Hurricane Katrina made the issue worse. Indoor mold and allergen levels have skyrocketed, and many health systems still remain closed.

About the HEAL Program

The Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL) project was begun in October 2006 in part by the New Orleans Department of Health to address a post Katrina epidemic asthma epidemic. The purpose of the project is to promote the health of asthmatic children by understanding the environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina. Specifically, HEAL seeks to:

1. Understand the effects of indoor allergens and mold on post-Katrina asthmatic children,
2. Characterize inherited differences in children’s ability to cope with mold, and
3. Evaluate a case management system for helping asthmatic children cope with the disease.

The HEAL project represents a collaborative effort of many institutions, including Tulane University School of Public Health and Rho, Inc. funded by grants from multiple entities including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Center for Minority Health and Disparities (NCMHD), and the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN).

The levels of mold and indoor toxins will be measured in the homes of children enrolled in the study.

Asthma counselors will be available to families to assist children in the management of their disease through group sessions and more focused individual sessions.

ENROLLMENT IS FREE!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING AN HEAL PARTICIPANT?

1. A free comprehensive physical exam completed by a Pediatric Asthma Specialist.
2. HEPA Filters, and other asthma tools when asthma tools are deemed necessary,
3. If needed, participants will receive dehumidifiers

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

To enroll in the HEAL study, 3 major criteria must be met:

1. The child must be between the ages of 4-12
2. The child must live in Orleans Parish
3. The child must have persistent breathing and/or wheezing problems consistent with asthma

INFORMATION OR ENROLLMENT CONTACTS

Project Coordinator

Tamika Edwards

 504-658-2707 o

tyedwards@cityofno.com

Program Director

Mosanda M. Mvula, MD, MPH

504-658-2500

 mmmvula@cityofno.com