News and Events

WORLD ASTHMA DAY CO-ORDINATION

In 1989 the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was established in the USA, and designated the first Tuesday in May as World Asthma Day (WAD). NAEP co-ordinates the South African activities for World Asthma Day. This includes press releases, articles for print media, and appearance on television news slots on and around WAD. Radio interviews are held by NAEP accredited educators.

Recent regional activities have drawn attention to asthma and educated laypeople (eg shopping center stands, public rallies, school events) or professionals (eg CPD activities at hospitals, clinics etc). A successful poetry competition has been held in 2006 and 2007.

From left to right: Dr Mike Levin and Dani Van Zyl, winner of the WAD poetry competition in 2006, Pierre Uys, former minister of health for the Western Cape at a WAD event at Red Cross Hospital, Dr Shirani Naidoo and Sr Anne Toerien with children entering a WAD competition

NAEP WORKSHOPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS

Meetings are held throughout the country at different venues and with a variety of themes. These are aimed at prospective professional members of NAEP such as nurses and doctors. NAEP accredited speakers give talks or practical sessions on any aspect of asthma diagnosis or treatment.

CONGRESSES

NAEP Congresses are held every 2-3 years. These are aimed at all sectors of the professional members of NAEP. The first NAEP Asthma for Africa Congress was convened by Prof Gillian Ainslie and was held at the University of Cape Town in 2001. Prof Umesh Lalloo convened the second congress, which took place at the Holiday Inn, Durban in October 2003. Prof Robin Green ran the third congress, held at the Linder auditorium in Johannesburg in November 2005. NAEP members also attend congresses of our partner organisations to give talks, do asthma education and recruit new members.

From left to right: Bev Moore (asthma educator) and Lynne Zurnamer (Oz Healthcare communications) at the SATS congress 2008, Prof Motala, Sr Brown, Charlotte Botha and Sarah Karabus at an asthma education event, Nurses at an educational session in early 2008

PUBLIC EVENTS

NAEP members perform public educational sessions at venues around the country. This happens predominantly at shopping centers and at the Baba Indaba Exhibitions in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.

From left to right: Sheila Baker and colleage at Baba Indaba 2008, Ella Nelson at Baba Indaba 2008, Schalk Burger at the NAEP "relaunch" in October 2008