Launch of GARD Republic of Korea
Koreans are given healthier breathing thanks to national alliance against chronic respiratory diseases
In the Republic of Korea, we are experiencing rapid change both in terms of the population's health and social transition. Many people are migrating to cities, changing occupational patterns, and adopting new lifestyles. Populations are growing older. These factors directly impact on the risk and prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases.
Professor You-Young Kim, Chair of GARD Republic of Korea
One million people in the Western Pacific Region die each year from environmental health risks, and the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts a worsening scenario if effective measures to deal with growing industrialization and urbanization are not taken now (1). In the Republic of Korea only, 6% of all deaths in 2002, or 16 500 people, were due to chronic respiratory diseases.
Alarmed by this growing threat to health, the Republic of Korea launched in Seoul on 31 May 2007 its Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases.
(1) Source: One million people die yearly from environmental risks in the Western Pacific (press release)
GARD Korea will:
- Distribute the guidelines for prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases
- Conduct a nation wide survey for early detection and better control of patients
- Undertake both promotion and campaigns to the public as well as exhibitions
Participants of GARD Korea
- Korean Asthma Allergy Foundation
- Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology
- Korean Academy of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases
- Korean Society of occupational asthma
- Korean Academy of pediatric allergy and respiratory disease
- World Asthma Day project office Korea