by Mdm. Kee Ai Ling

   On World Ashtma day we had a public forum on “ You Can Control Your Asthma” and a course on “Emergency Asthma Management”
   The event was held in Pantai Putri Hospital, Ipoh on 5th May 2007 (Saturday) at Dhalia Utama, Level 4.

    Registration of participants was from 2.00-2.30pm. A total of 115 participants registered. A membership drive was also on to recruit more members to join PCS. A talk by Dr Leong Oon Keong on ‘You Can Control Your Asthma” was at 2.30pm. Dr Leong explained what is Asthma Control and that asthma does not have to limit your life, How to control your Asthma and know when your asthma is getting worse. This 45 minutes talk was followed by question and answer session. A group of Board Members went to welcome Datuk Thong Fah Chong (invited guest) at about 3pm.    After Dr Leong’s Q&A session, Dato Thong Fah Chong gave his speech. After his speech, Datuk Thong launched Perak Emergency Asthma Management Course (EAM) at the balcony of the hospital. Each participant was given a balloon tied to a string each as they stepped into the balcony which is adjacent to the exhibition hall. Three larger balloons tied together with a weight at the bottom, signified our PCS logo. Datuk Thong launched the event by cutting these 3 bigger balloons and released to the sky. All participants holding a balloon each also released their balloons. It was a sight to behold to see so many colourful balloons being released. It was a very hot afternoon, and we walked back to the exhibition hall for tea.

  Dr Leong and Dr Foo entertained the reporters in a board room. A few other board members joined them and answered questions from the press. Among pressmen present were from New Straits Time, Nanyang Siang Pau, China Press and Ipoh Echo.

  A talk on Emergency Asthma Management continued at 4pm by Dr Foo Joo Ee and Dr Daniel Tan. A 15 minutes Q&A after the talk followed. Participants asked many relevant questions such as haze problems, what food to avoid, etc.

  An assessment was given where all registered participants were allowed to sit for a test. A certificate of Attendance will be awarded for those who score 80% and above upon completion of the course at 5pm.