Children with asthma to receive help from upcoming state law

A local health group, Comite Civico del Valle, said some children with asthma risk their lives every day when they go to school because of school policy and state law.

Jose Luis Olmedo , Comite Civico Director, said, ” It doesn’t allow them to administer an inhaler if a child needs it. It doesn’t allow for a child to carry an inhaler if they need it if it is prescribed in Mexico. ”

This involves families insured by binational health plans being referred to primary medical care south of the border.

“Health plans that are licensed in California that are doing business in the border that are sending their patients and children to get primary care,” Olmedo said.

The group is working with Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia to fix that.

“Unfortunately for the children, particularly children who suffer from respiratory disease problems, cannot use their medication, in this case inhalers on school campus,” Garcia said.

Garcia understands the dangers these children face.

” We represent an area that suffers tremendously from poor air quality where six out of ten children suffer from respiratory disease problems. We cannot put children at risk and certainly their lives at risk, ” Garcia said.

He introduced Assembly Bill 743 to change that and help those families.

” The bill is on its way to the senate. We’re excited that we have bipartisan support on this measure, ” Garcia said.

Comite Civico said they had a hand in creating the bill by pointing out the needs of local children and disadvantaged families.

“We hope that in the next couple of months it reaches the governor’s desk,” Olmedo said.

A recent national study reported that 11 Americans die from asthma each day.

Another recent study states that about 23,000 children and adults in Imperial Valley have asthma.