Five schools will be vying for first place in the Ministry of Health’s annual Asthma Quiz, which kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at the Bridgefield Pavilion, near the Lester Vaughn School, St. Thomas.
Pupils from the schools – Eden Lodge Primary, Sharon Primary, Welches Primary, Hillaby-Turners Hall Primary and Holy Innocents Primary – will be going head to head to test their knowledge about asthma; a chronic condition which narrows and swells a person’s airways, resulting in difficulty breathing.
Nurse Sonia Piggott of the Warrens Polyclinic is the organiser of the quiz, which is now in its seventh year. She said the aim was to foster a sound knowledge and create awareness about asthma.
"As you can see, it is prevalent in Barbados and people are complaining and calling for legislation regarding indiscriminate burning because [as you know, smoke or air pollutants can trigger an asthma attack]. If we target the young ones now, they will be the ones to spread the message," Ms. Piggott said.
Pupils will be competing for individual trophies and the winning school will receive a Challenge Shield and a Ministry of Health Trophy. The Finals are scheduled for May 24, at the Lester Vaughn School.