Tags: Trump budget cuts, asthma care California, Imperial Valley asthma, National Asthma Control Program, environmental justice, childhood asthma, air pollution health risks
Asthma Care at Risk in Imperial Valley
In California’s Imperial Valley, a region plagued by poor air quality and high childhood asthma rates, proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration threaten vital asthma management programs. Esther Bejarano, whose son was hospitalized for asthma as an infant, now works with Comite Civico del Valle, a local organization providing critical asthma education. These programs, which help families manage asthma and avoid triggers like pesticides from nearby agricultural fields, face potential elimination due to federal funding reductions.
Impact of Proposed Federal Cuts
The Trump administration’s budget proposal targets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Asthma Control Program, which supports asthma education initiatives across 27 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. With $33.5 million allocated last year, the program funds efforts like Comite Civico del Valle’s Asthma Management Academy, which trains healthcare workers to educate patients. The current grant cycle ends August 31, and the program’s future remains uncertain, potentially leading to increased emergency room visits and asthma-related deaths, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Imperial Valley’s Asthma Crisis
The Imperial Valley, a major producer of winter crops, suffers from some of the nation’s worst air pollution, exacerbated by pesticide use and dust from the drying Salton Sea. The region has one of California’s highest rates of childhood asthma-related emergency room visits. Bejarano attributes her son’s asthma to environmental factors, a common issue in this area where communities of color face disproportionate health risks due to pollution and limited access to clean water.
Loss of Critical Data and Resources
Beyond funding, the National Asthma Control Program provides essential data on asthma prevalence, mortality, and trends, guiding healthcare providers in crafting effective treatment plans. Experts like Graciela Anaya of the Central California Asthma Collaborative worry that losing this data will hinder efforts to justify and tailor asthma services. Mitchell Grayson of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation fears that critical health recommendations, such as avoiding air pollution and getting vaccinated, may also disappear from government resources.
Environmental Justice Concerns
Asthma disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color, often located near pollution sources like highways or agricultural fields. The Trump administration’s moves to cut Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs, including $1.6 billion in Community Change Grants and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for climate-related health research, further threaten these populations. Rollbacks of environmental regulations could worsen air quality, increasing asthma risks in areas like Fresno, a top “asthma capital,” and Memphis, which struggles with high ozone levels.
A Personal Toll in Bombay Beach
In the Imperial Valley’s Bombay Beach, a “forgotten community” near the Salton Sea, the stakes are personal. The area’s majority-Hispanic residents face polluted air and water, with a pervasive rotten egg smell from pesticide-laden dust. In 2022, a 12-year-old girl died from an asthma attack while on a waiting list for Comite Civico’s asthma education program. Bejarano emphasizes that such deaths are preventable with proper education and resources, underscoring the urgent need to maintain funding for asthma care.
A Call for Continued Support
Asthma experts warn that the loss of federal support could reverse progress, as the CDC program has reduced asthma deaths by 44% since 1999 and saves $71 in healthcare costs for every dollar invested. Advocates like Isabel González Whitaker of EcoMadres stress the need to preserve environmental regulations and funding to protect vulnerable communities. As Bejarano notes, asthma is a manageable condition, and no one should die from it with the right support in place.
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