For Immediate Release
November 22, 2011
WORLD COPD DAY CELEBRATED
Community Partners host first annual Come Out & Play Day
CHATHAM-KENT – On November 16, the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres along with the Thamesview Family Health Team, VitalAire, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and ProResp hosted the first annual Come Out & Play Day to celebrate Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The event coincided with World COPD day which is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to improve awareness and care of COPD around the world.
About 210 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to the 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. COPD is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Key causes of COPD are tobacco smoking, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and exposure to occupational dusts and chemicals. The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Each year organizers in more than 50 countries worldwide participate in the day.
Zofe Roberts, Senior Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Respiratory EducatorFor Chatham-Kent Health Alliance states, “COPD is one of the most overlooked and underestimated chronic diseases that affects many people within Chatham-Kent. Those affected by it live with varying degrees of shortness of breath which impacts every aspect of their daily lives. As community partners, we are recognizing World COPD Day to create awareness within our community about it and to provide an opportunity for those living with it to celebrate life”.
The inspiration for the theme of Come Out & Play Day came from Sonia Teeuwen, a Registered Nurse with the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres. The idea was to create a festive and light hearted atmosphere where guests would feel at ease and enjoy the afternoon. Festivities began with a delicious lunch, and were followed by a fun and interactive presentation by Christine Byrne, chair Tai-Chi with Fran Betts, information booths, games and entertainment.
The event, which took place at the Portuguese Canadian Social Club of Chatham, was completely free of charge to anyone with COPD including family members, or caregivers and from all accounts was a resounding success.
