COPD Learn More Breathe Better(R) Campaign
On January 18, 2007, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)—one of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) institutions—launched a national awareness campaign targeting the 12 million undiagnosed individuals living in the U.S. with COPD.
The Launch
The event began with remarks by Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, NHLBI Director, and Dr, James Kiley, Director of NHLBI’s Division of Lung Diseases. They stressed the importance of this campaign in raising public awareness around the nation’s fourth leading cause of death. Grace Anne Dorney Koppel, wife of former ABC News Nightline anchor Ted Koppel, currently of Discovery Channel, spoke about her own personal experience living with COPD. Following Mrs. Koppel’s remarks were presentations by world renowned COPD researchers from across the country. Additionally, remarks were made by campaign partners, representatives from medical professional societies and COPD patient groups, including John W. Walsh from the COPD Foundation.
Goals of the Campaign
The goals of the COPD Learn More Breathe Better® Campaign are to increase awareness of COPD as a serious lung disease, increase understanding that COPD is treatable, and to encourage at-risk individuals to take a simple breathing test and talk to their doctors about treatment options.
The free COPD Resource Kit
The COPD Foundation is one of the Campaign’s key partners, developing two programs with the Campaign in order to spread COPD Awareness: the Mobile Spirometry Unit and the C.O.P.D. Information Line.
The Foundation also developed the COPD Resource Kit: an advocacy tool Kit with hundreds of educational materials, DVD, CD, and a guide on how to use the contents—perfect for the rookie or sleuth advocate that wants to make a difference in their community. The Kit is free for all orders; only $8.50 USD for postage costs.
Read more about the COPD Resource Kit by clicking here. For more information about the COPD Learn More Breathe Better® campaign, visit: www.learnaboutcopd.org
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