Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children and a leading cause of school absenteeism.
According to a 2012 survey published by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, African-American children double the amount of whites and hispanic youth affected by asthma at 20 percent.
Wichita's Sunflower Community Action and other community partners will host an asthma screening Friday for children in grades 4 through 12. KMUW’s Carla Eckels reports…
The Environmental Protection Agency, and AKA sorority, are teaming up with Sunflower Community Action to provide screenings.
Spokesperson Djuan Wash says the collaboration is an effort to increase knowledge about asthma risks and symptoms-- and share information on how to manage the respiratory disease. He says health providers will administer the asthma screenings.
"We've teamed up with Via Christi Health and Dr. Thomas Scott and his wife Dr. Fannette Thornhill-Scott to perform these screenings which is very important for communities of color and just all communities," Wash says. "Wichita is one of the highest cities for asthma and allergens in air quality here we actually rate 35th out of 100 cities so that’s still --we’re on the higher end of things so this was an opportunity for us to address that concern.”
The EPA will present information on asthma triggers and health providers will answer general medical related questions.
The free asthma screenings take place on Friday, May 30 from 11-3 at Sunflower Community Action located on 17th and Ash in Wichita.
