Simon and Barbara Williamson have launched a new online education program to educate people in Northern Ireland about asthma. The couple was motivated to create the program following the tragic death of their daughter, Rachel, when she was 16-years-old in 2017. The program is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and provides detailed information on how to manage asthma properly and what to do in an asthma attack. The program was recently launched in Ballyhalbert at Glastry College where Rachel attended.
The couple hopes the program will save lives and provide resources for schools. They feel strongly that if the program can save just one life, it will be worth the effort. According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), 47 adults in Northern Ireland died from asthma in 2023. The agency also reports that around one in 10 people in Northern Ireland, including 36,000 children, suffer from asthma.
The program has been designed with input from medical experts and local athletes with the condition. Many asthma deaths can be prevented through the proper use of inhalers and regular check-ups. The program aims to provide accurate information so that people with asthma can better manage their condition. Rachel’s father Simon, who has worked for years to develop the program, said: “If it saves a life or if people sit up and take notice, schools will benefit from it. If it saves a life, then that is our job done, and Rachel has done her bit.”
Dara O’Donaghue, a pediatric respiratory consultant, cautioned that some asthma sufferers can mistakenly believe that taking a blue inhaler is sufficient. They can forget to take their preventer inhaler, which can lead to further asthma attacks, increased risks, and asthma deaths. Education Minister Paul Givan, who also suffers from asthma, lauded the launch of the program and encouraged people to attend their annual asthma reviews
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