Healthy Airway Programme2.0

Background

Air pollution not only impacts student asthma but also chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), which commonly affects people in middle age and old age. The Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion joined hands with the District Health Centre, District Health Centre Express and the Hong Kong Asthma Society to promote the Healthy Airway Programme in the academic year of 2024/25. The programme aims to identify students and their families with undiagnosed asthmatic or COAD symptoms, respectively, and understand the relationship between respiratory health and environment with the joint power of community, education and health sectors. Early identification of asthma or respiratory health problems can help student and their family members better manage their situations as early as possible. In this way, they can participate in physical activity as usual and develop a positive lifestyle.

This programme will have screening for student and their family members by means of a questionnaire. It also includes teachers' training, parents' workshops, and referral of asthmatic and COAD cases for follow-up. Schools will develop a "School Asthma Action Plan" by the end of the programme. This programme will recruit 5-10 local kindergartens and primary and secondary schools. Potential asthmatic children and potential COAD family members could be identified through screening, and teachers' confidence in taking care of the asthmatic children will also be enhanced.

Objectives

To help students with potential asthmatic symptoms in the early stage by early identification.
To help students' family members with potential COAD symptoms in the early stage by early identification.
To enhance the confidence of kindergarten, primary and secondary school teachers in taking care of asthmatic students.