EFA

On June 11 the first AGM and third meeting of the Global Allergy and Asthma Patient Platform (GAAPP), an initiative from EFA took place during the EAACI (European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology) conference in Istanbul. Natalio Salmún from Argentina was elected President, and EFA board member Per-Åke Wecksell was elected 1st Vice President. Yu Zhi Chen from China will act as 2nd Vice President, Otto Spranger from Austria will be the Treasurer, Rob Lanteigne from Canada will be Vice Treasurer, Anna Andrałojć from Poland will be Secretary, and Irene Krcmova from the Czech Republic will be Vice Secretary. Antje-H. Fink-Wagner, EFA Project & Fundraising Officer, is to be GAAPP Director. GAAPP already has 20 members with representatives from each continent and its mission is to support patients with allergies and asthma worldwide in having their rights recognised by governments, health care professionals and the public. This will be achieved through aglobal network for patient empowerment, working together and on equal footing with government and health care organizations, helping establish patient groups in emerging countries, supporting patients’ active role in managing their disease and those close to themin support this, supporting the health and social policy concerns of member organisations, fighting for the best standards of care, supporting emerging countries in the provision of appropriate care, and campaigning for the right of allergy and asthma patients to good air quality. GAAPP’s first project will be the organisation of sport games for children with asthma aged 14 to 16, due to start on June 21, 2012 in Salzburg, Austria. If you are interested in sending participants please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..