Asthma is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The Global Initiative for Asthma was created to increase awareness of asthma among health professionals, public health authorities and the general public, and to improve prevention and management through a concerted worldwide effort. The Initiative prepares scientific reports on asthma, encourages dissemination and adoption of the reports. and promotes international collaboration on asthma research.

While asthma has been recognized for many years, public health officials are concerned about recent and continuing increases in its prevalence. The Global Initiative for Asthma offers a framework for asthma management that can be adapted to local health carfe systems and resources. Educational tools, fsuch as laminated cards, or computer based learning programs can be prepared that are tailored to these systems and resources.