It is estimated that more than 7,000 people on the Island have asthma. The support group, Open Airways, works hard at educating the public on how to manage the disease. It provides free pillows to asthmatic children, as well as free spacers for all asthmatics and has piloted an asthma nurse for schools.

King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) asthma educator Debbie Barboza said that such efforts have had a positive impact on the community. The number of asthma patients admitted to KEMH for problems with the disease has dropped significantly since the formation of Open Airways.

Ms Barboza heads the Asthma Education Centre at KEMH. It handles about 300 patient visits each year. Nurse Barboza provides clients with information on recognising and understanding warning signals, asthma triggers and suggests how to avoid them.

Patients are taught how to effectively take inhaled medications with minimal side effects, and how to use a spacer.

An 'action plan', or personal guideline for controlling asthma, teaches clients to evaluate their condition through breathing measurements or symptoms.

Events slated for this week include:

TODAY

8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.: Open house in KEMH lobby

THURSDAY

11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.: Asthma education and free spacers given in Washington Mall

5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Asthma seminar at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute featuring guest speaker Martyn Partridge, professor of respiratory medicine at the Imperial College, London, at 6 p.m.