Asthma and School

Sister Patrice Owens believes that “home is the first place a child learns”. However, she recognizes that “our children live in housing which sometimes is deplorable with the conditions and they don’t get the repairs they need, there are all kind of issues with the housing”. She helps families file complaints with NYCHA.

Sister Patrice Owens works with NYCHA, the housing arm of the city, to help her students and their families repair and improve their own living conditions. For example, mold is a significant problem in housing and is a contributing factor to the high rates of asthma in the city. Last year, one of Sister Patrice’s second-grade students died of asthma.

In a 2008 study, Health Behaviors among Youth in East and Central Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick, and the South Bronx, it was found that teens in East and Central Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick, and the South Bronx are more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than teens in other parts of the city. On November 3, 2016, the Health Department launched a campaign to educate parents about the chronic illness. The campaign’s tagline states, “Your child’s asthma is always there, even when they seem perfectly fine”.

In support of the awareness campaign, Senator Ruben Díaz Sr. said “As the Senator representing the South Bronx where asthma rates are the highest in the nation, I support these health awareness initiatives to help parents manage their children's asthma. I will continue to fight for every available resource so our families and children can have access to healthy food, regular exercise, and quality medical care”. Additionally, Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. said “Growing up in the South Bronx, I myself have suffered from asthma, and know firsthand why it’s important to help educate parents on how to help their children. As we fight for cleaner air, it’s important to know about the resources we have available for children suffering with asthma”.

Asthma and School