ECRMC tackles high asthma rate in Imperial County

May 7th is recognized globally as World Asthma Day. El Centro Regional Medical Center held a resource fair today for asthma awareness.

In 2016, the California Department of Public Health recorded that 23,000 children and adults have been diagnosed with asthma in Imperial County.

Imperial Valley Child Asthma Program provided information and resources for families who have a child with asthma.

The event centered around the theme “You can control your asthma.”

ECRMC says asthma is one of the most common diseases affecting the poor and minority groups.

According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in ten children in the united states has asthma.

ECRMC says the Imperial Valley has been recognized as having one of the highest childhood asthma hospitalization and emergency department visits in California.

According to data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in 2014, hospitalizations related to asthma for children 0-17 in the Imperial Valley was two times higher than the rest of the state.