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In the news...
Yachad's asthma remediation effort was first spearheaded by Dr. Janet Phoenix in early 2018 with the creation of our virtual home visit program with Children's National Hospital. That program continues today, providing critical home remediation to DC families. Dr. Phoenix, a public health specialist and longtime advocate for childhood asthma solutions, was recently quoted in an article by The Washington Informer, entitled, Indoor Air Quality Linked to Higher Rates of Asthma and Respiratory Infections. Her voice and leadership is central to the advocacy efforts to improve environmental health inequities impacting families and children.
Dr. Phoenix states in the article, "There are various reasons why young people develop immune challenges. When a young child is exposed to a lot of pests or mold, then they can develop an allergy to that, which can change the way their immune system develops, and that change is permanent. It’s something that they carry around with them for the rest of their lives.”
While residents may have access to emergency care, long-term healthcare management for asthma and respiratory illnesses often requires ongoing monitoring and medication. Without the financial means to consistently access medical care or invest in home improvements, many D.C. residents struggle to effectively manage respiratory-based illnesses, leading to more frequent emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
“Children with asthma are at increased risk of unscheduled physician visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations when exposed to…allergens in the home,” a report from the National Institutes of Health on Housing and Asthma Disparities details.
Read the full article in this post which was originally published on The Washington Informer.
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