Black Lives Matter: A Statement from the COPD Foundation

Washington DC - June 3, 2020 - The COPD Foundation team and Board of Directors are deeply troubled by the systemic injustice and discrimination present in our society. We join the country in mourning the unnecessary loss of life and denouncing the racist acts of violence faced by African American communities for decades. Our mission includes improving the lives of those affected by COPD, a mission that requires we understand, acknowledge, and address the unique barriers to achieving good health and well-being faced by communities of color and others adversely impacted by COPD.

We believe every life and every breath is a treasure that we must collectively work to protect. In the U.S. If you are black with COPD, you are more likely to end up in the emergency room and in the hospital, quality of life is worse and progress seen by many groups is absent. We recognize this is just a snapshot of the overall health disparities that exist, and we must commit to addressing them as just one step to fighting racism, violence, and institutional discrimination that has plagued our country for too long.

Now is the time to commit to productive action, and we will do more to listen and learn how our efforts can evolve and contribute to a more just society and more equitable health outcomes and then put these learnings into action throughout our advocacy, education, and research efforts.