World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with health care groups and asthma educators to raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the world

Each year GINA chooses a theme and organizes preparation and distribution of World Asthma Day materials and resources. World Asthma Day activities are organized in each country by health care professionals, educators, and members of the public who want to help reduce the burden of asthma.

The first World Asthma Day, in 1998, was celebrated in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first World Asthma Meeting held in Barcelona, Spain. Participation has increased with each World Asthma Day held since then, and the day has become one of the world's most important asthma awareness and education events.

World Asthma Day 2010 took place on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. The theme was “You Can Control Your Asthma,” continuing the focus on the positive theme introduced for WAD 2007 and consistent with the emphasis on asthma control set out in the latest versions of the GINA guideline documents. In addition, on WAD 2010 GINA launched a campaign to reduce asthma hospitalizations worldwide by 50% in the next 5 years. This builds on the "You Can Control Your Asthma" theme, as better asthma control means fewer hospitalizations. Click here to view a slideshow of activities from WAD 2010