GSK's Win Against Asthma campaign

Do you know that Asthma can be a serious condition but it can be controlled? 

GSK Philippines recently launched their latest campaign entitled “Win Against Asthma” at Makati Shangri-La. Win Against Asthma campaign is an integrated advocacy campaign that leverages different communication platforms (eg. TV, radio, print, digital and community activations) to ensure wider audience reach. The Win Against Asthma campaign will provide useful information to asthma sufferers, their families and support groups about the disease and how it can be managed. To highlight that asthma need not deter one from reaching his/her goals, real asthma patients will provide testimony of their experiences and how they have won against asthma. Win Against Asthma calls Filipinos to action to consult their doctors and discuss the best way to manage their asthma.

Asthma is chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells play a role. This inflammation causes symptoms which are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment, and causes an associated increase in airway responsiveness, i.e constriction of the airways, to a variety of stimuli. The symptoms of asthma are wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and

coughing particularly at night or in the early morning. Asthma affects 235 million people worldwide1 and 10.7 million people in the Philippines. It is estimated that another 100 million people will suffer from asthma by 2025. There are an estimated 250,000 annual worldwide deaths from asthma. Most of these deaths occur in those over 45 years old and are largely preventable.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and is the leading cause of childhood morbidity from chronic disease as measured by school absences, emergency visits and hospitalizations.

Access to doctors and treatment has been shown to significantly decrease asthma deaths and hospitalizations. People with asthma can lead normal and active lives. They can even excel.

By launching the Win Against Asthma campaign, GSK is taking a very big opportunity to increase awareness and amplify existing efforts to spread information about asthma and how it can be managed. GSK strongly believes and advocates that in partnership with their doctors, asthma patients can realize that their condition need not deter them from achieving their goals.

 

The Win Against Asthma was graced by the “Win Against Asthma" ambassadors -- Ms. Kim Chui and Mr. Arnel Pineda. 

Not many know that Kim also suffers from asthma. Kim shares that she has suffered from asthma since high school and has been dealing with it it for over 5 years now. 

 

With Kim’s active lifestyle and work in tow – the klieg lights, singing, dancing and acting, Kim has come to terms with the fact that asthma will be with her for life. For others like her who are living with asthma, Kim’s advice is to be happy, enjoy and live life to the fullest. “Sa lahat ng may asthma na katulad ko, ‘wag po kayong matakot sa sakit natin. We can do whatever we want, as long as alaga nyo ang sarili nyo, regular na magpatingin sa doktor at may gamot tayo, kaya natin ito!’

For Kim Chiu, the clear choice is not to allow asthma to restrict her. Instead, Kim chooses to be a winner over asthma!

 

And who would have known, that with every heart-pounding performance he gives, Arnel suffers from a real and literally breath-taking condition called asthma. Asthma didn’t come ‘til later in Arnel’s life. He recalls one morning in the year 2000, while cleaning their room in their old house in Kamuning, he felt an onset of colds which he thought was just a normal thing until it got worse in just about 30 minutes. ‘Bigla nalang maga na yung ilong ko at merong shortness of breath,’ he shared. ‘Nagpahinga ako sandali pero after

awhile, ayan na naman.’

Dr. Eric Tayag with Arnel Pineda and Kim Chiu

Arnel has been managing his asthma for a long time. He has battled the disease, dismissed fear in dealing with his condition, and has stopped considering it a big hindrance to his career. Arnel strongly believes that as long as he works very closely with his doctor, he will win over asthma.

And with his commitment, both to bring happiness through his music or winning against asthma, indeed, he never stops believing.

Dr. Enrique Amar 'Eric' Tayag also graced the event as he is ensuring that an epidemic will never trouble the country’s populace during his watch. He also performed his famous dance number.