Student asthma registry opens to provide proper support
Parents and guardians are encouraged to register children with asthma to the Bermuda Student Asthma Registry 2026-27, which is now open.
The online registry supports asthma healthcare providers as well as the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education by enabling them to track students with asthma and ensure appropriate support is in place throughout the school year.
Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, emphasised the importance of annual registration. She said: “Each September, we ask parents to take a few minutes to update their child’s information so we can give every student with asthma the very best support.
“A child’s health needs can change and registering each year ensures our asthma specialists have the most accurate, up to date details.
“When we work together, we can help our students enjoy a healthy, confident and active school year.”
The registry is collaboratively run between the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Bermuda Hospitals Board Asthma Education Centre and Open Airways, a Bermudian-registered charity. All information submitted is held in strict confidence.
“We want every student to feel confident and supported throughout the school year. That includes making sure children with asthma have what they need to stay healthy and fully engaged in learning,” said Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education.
Debbie Barboza, the health department’s school asthma nurse, added: “Students who have had asthma education and have discussed new guidelines with their doctors, have the best inhalers and are using optimal technique, should be able to participate in all school and sporting activities and should not need to be absent from school due to asthma.
“An analysis of the 2025-26 information shows that there is still much work to be done to teach students, parents and teachers how to best keep students with asthma healthy.”
• 57 per cent of students with asthma missed school days. A student with controlled asthma should not miss any days due to asthma
• 29 students were admitted to the hospital for asthma-related concerns, and 22 per cent [1 in 5] reported experiencing an asthma attack during the year
• 43 per cent of students were either using their spacer incorrectly or did not have one. Spacers help medication work more effectively and with fewer side effects
• While 67 per cent of students believed their asthma was “well controlled,” more than half of those students still missed school — a clear sign their asthma was not well controlled
• Only 39 per cent of all students surveyed actually had well-controlled asthma
Nicola MacDougall, the asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease educator at Open Airways, said its collaborative team of health providers works with the aim of ensuring every child with asthma receives the proper guidance and assistance they need.
If your child has asthma, or you suspect they might, add their information to the 2026-27 Bermuda student asthma registry at https://bit.ly/2026BermudaStudentAsthmaRegistry.
For further information, contact Nicola MacDougall at educ@openairways.com.
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