CDC CPOD Program

There are programs dedicated to reducing death and disease at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for virtually every other leading cause of death in the U.S., but no such dedicated program has been created for COPD - even though COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and kills more than 130,000 Americans each year. We are joining with the American Lung Association, the American Thoracic Society, and others to urge Congress to create a program at CDC to address COPD. With this new program, CDC will be able to expand critical surveillance activities and create a comprehensive national action plan for combating COPD – all of which would allow the U.S. to begin to address prevention, treatment and management for this disease.

Please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to fund creation of a COPD program at CDC. Here's how:

Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
2. Enter your Zip Code and click on "GO".
3. Click on "Federal" in the top box.
4. Click once on the checkmark in front of "George W. Bush, President" (so as not to send the letter to him).
5. As your subject, type or paste in: Please Support CDC Program to Address COPD
6. As your Issue area, select "Health" in the dropdown menu

I am writing to urge you to support the allocation of $6 million to establish a national program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is the fourth leading cause of death in America, claiming the lives of more than 130,000 Americans each year.

More than 12 million Americans have COPD and it is estimated that another 12 million have the disease but haven't been diagnosed. Sadly, COPD cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Early diagnosis is the key to successful management of this chronic disease. Early detection and the development of new therapies can improve health outcomes and help millions of people with COPD live longer, healthier lives.

I believe that the establishment of a national COPD program to expand surveillance activities and create a comprehensive national action plan for combating COPD is essential to begin to address this critical public health problem.

Calling on CDC, the nation's premier health prevention institution, would be the most effective strategy to enhance prevention and treatment of this devastating disease. Currently, there is very little information gathered at CDC about COPD, especially when compared with other leading causes of illness and death. More surveillance is needed in order to give public health experts a better picture of disease trends; identify disparities in health status and use of health care; support biomedical and health services research; and provide information for making changes in public policies and programs.

Please support providing CDC with $6 million to start a COPD-specific program in the FY09 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. Providing these funds will allow the CDC to begin planning and disease monitoring activities needed to get control of COPD.

8. Fill in the blanks with the information about yourself.
9. Click on the "Send Message" button.

That's it! You have just written to both your Senators and to your Representative. And now, please drop a note to fbarrettao@aol.com so we can add your letters to our count. Thank you.