For a new centre dedicated to teaching sufferers how to manage their problem opened earlier this month at the Island's only medical hospital.

A joint venture between the Ministry of Health and the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Asthma Education Centre at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital began enlightening asthma sufferers on April 1.

The Centre is run by former emergency room nurse Debbie Barboza who took a special six-month university-level course which netted her a diploma in asthma.

"It covered everything from theory to the practical,'' she said. "My time in the ER gave me a good background in dealing with asthma cases.'' Ms Barboza estimated that approximately 3,000 children and 5,000 adults in Bermuda have asthma.

"Whilst most admissions to the hospital are necessary at the time because the person is suffering from sever asthma, many could have been prevented by different prior care,'' she pointed out. "This year over 100 asthmatics have visited emergency monthly.'' She also noted that for many years asthma had been the top medical admission at the hospital, which was one of the reasons why officials set up the Asthma Education Centre.

"The Ministry of Health looked into the various diseases that were costing lots of money and asthma is one of the major diagnoses at King Edward, especially in the ER (emergency room),'' explained Dr. Robert Vallis. "The Ministry set up a chronic disease management programme to look at three diseases, heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

"Asthma is the first of their new programmes to get up and running.'' Dr. Vallis said the Ministry spent nearly a year getting the programme in place and that the Centre was just a portion of that entire programme.

"We want to look at doing some research into asthma, perhaps an epidemiology study and how it relates to Bermuda,'' he explained. "We're also trying to get health care workers all on the same guidelines and we want to try to decrease the amount of suffering and the huge costs of asthma care.

"A lot of asthma care is expensive because people are going to the ER because they are not managing their asthma. We are trying to make people more aware and more educated so everyone is getting the optimum care and managing their asthma, thus decreasing costs.'' "We'll be measuring and graphing the use of the clinic to justify using the clinic,'' noted Norma Smith, programme manager of King Edwards VII's medical programmes. "And we want to see the impact on the ER.'' Ms Barboza added: "We also hope to develop an asthma register so we will know all the local asthma sufferers.

"We need to build bridges between health professionals and patients so together we can achieve the goal of providing asthma education and turn good asthma care into a reality.'' But the group was quick to point out that the Centre was not an alternative to professional medical care. Patients will still have to be under the care of their physicians who refers them to the Centre for supplementary information.

"It is not an alternative medical centre,'' explained Dr. Vallis. "Doctors will still treat patients but Debbie will educate them.

"This is not an alternative clinic, its an education centre.'' He added: "Patients will learn the basic anatomy of a normal versus an asthmatic airway, how to recognise their symptoms and what triggers it, the possible environmental causes of their asthma and how to use their inhaler properly so they get the best out of their medication.'' "The main thrust is to decrease the number of attacks a person has,'' said Ms Smith.

For the moment the Asthma Centre is a part-time operation, but the organisers said they hoped to build up the hours and services offered to patients. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

"The initial assessment is 90 minutes long,'' explained Ms Barboza. "I listen to their questions and go through their concerns and worries.'' After the initial consultation, patients return for as many half-hour follow-up sessions as their health care professional feel is necessary.

"The patients seem thrilled by the new service,'' Ms Barboza added. "They feel that they understand their medication and like the idea that someone is sitting down and talking to them.'' "The hospital is thrilled because we have a goal of providing continuous care for people,'' noted Ms Smith. "With this we can offer patients continuous care once they are released.

"Debbie also serves as a resource for our nurses, we have already had one educational session. It helps to maintain the consistency of care between the wards and the Centre.'' "One of the aims of having the Centre in the hospital is that people will have access to it, especially those who couldn't afford a private clinic,'' Dr. Vallis added. "It should provide everyone with education and level the playing field so everyone can learn how to manage their asthma.'' And the new facility has received plenty of support from other asthma programmes and charities.

"Liz Boden has done wonders for our asthma community in Bermuda and without her work I wouldn't be here today,'' noted Ms Barboza. "Liz is delighted that the hospital has an Asthma Education Centre and has given her enthusiasm and support.

"And the charity Open Airways is open to us so we can call on them to provide assistance, like pillows for patients.'' Noting that children were particularly vulnerable to the impact of poorly controlled asthma, the group hope that the new Centre would make a real difference in the lives of those with the disease.

"There should be fewer hospital stays and less missed school days,'' said Ms Barboza.

"People with asthma should be able to live a normal life,'' added Dr. Vallis.

"There is no reason why they can't live a normal life.

"Many people will have to use medication for the rest of their life but it is a manageable disease. We can't cure it but we can control it, however people need to know as much about it as they can and what is happening to them in order to control asthma.

"Education is the key. The days are gone when doctors were the only ones with the information.''