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Association Josiane Salone
united against COPD
Founded in 2017, the association «Josiane Salone, united against COPD» aims to sensitize public authorities to the crucial importance of early detection of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), while also striving to raise public awareness about this condition.
A Public Health Issue
Pulmonary diseases are a major global health concern, causing approximately one in six deaths, similar to the early 20th century. Among them, COPD is a silent disease that progresses slowly without causing symptoms.
Double the silence, COPD is both unknown to patients and largely underdiagnosed by the medical community. It is constantly on the rise, with worrying statistics, posing a significant challenge.
Let us remember: COPD has no curative treatment, which underscores the importance of early detection to slow its irreversible progression and prevent the gradual isolation the disease can cause.
We are advocating for the introduction of incentive legislation and the expansion of medical staff competencies to ensure that this 'simple act' of COPD screening becomes widely available, accessible to all, and as routine as measuring blood pressure or temperature.
It is essential to move beyond the sole focus on smoking, as the exponential rise in COPD cases among non-smokers clearly demonstrates.
Our Commitment to Public Health
In response to our advocacy efforts with public authorities on the critical importance of COPD and the need to promote its screening, this cause has been brought before both the National Assembly and the Senate, now receiving the support of several deputies and senators.
These efforts have also contributed to the development of new health recommendations, further highlighting the urgency of addressing this disease within public policy frameworks.
Committed to Our Cause
Understanding COPD
Some of you never may have heard of COPD.
This scourge predominantly affects women and baby boomers, reflecting a distorted image of freedom and emancipation, reminiscent of the Cassandra-like warning about the pleasure they indulged in without fear or regret: smoking.
Indeed, the primary cause of COPD is smoking tobacco.
Beyond Smoking
While COPD is traditionally associated with smoking, it also affects non-smokers, accounting for up to 20% of cases.
This observation underscores the importance of considering other risk factors, such as air pollution and genetic predispositions.
Certain socio-professional groups are particularly vulnerable, and the established link between frequent pesticide exposure and various serious diseases, including COPD, highlights this reality.
COPD: Test Yourself
The symptoms of COPD, such as breathlessness, coughing, and expectoration, are now widely recognized.
This COPD test provides everyone with the opportunity for an anonymous and free screening.
It is important to note that this test is not a substitute for a consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.
Why Join Us?
Joining means supporting the life of the association, sharing in your fight, acting together against the illness, and amplifying your voice with public authorities and health organizations.
It also means becoming part of a supportive community, dedicated to individuals affected by COPD and their caregivers: a space for exchange and support designed to break the isolation caused by the illness, ease communication without guilt, and provide comfort and understanding to patients and their loved ones.
Membership is open to everyone: patients, parents, siblings, family members, supporters, volunteers…
Your Space
Within this multidisciplinary community, dedicated spaces for exchange are available for individuals affected by the disease and their close caregivers.
These spaces cater to the specific needs of each person, covering a variety of topics and providing a setting where members can openly share personal experiences, find comfort among those who have faced similar challenges, as only a patient – or a caregiver – truly understands what the other is going through.
“1000 Solidarity Breaths” Collective
Together, let's bring a breath of relief and infuse hope to those in need!
Join the Collective and help transform the daily lives of respiratory patients and their caregivers.
United in the face of illness, we stand by those affected by all forms of respiratory diseases.
Because every action counts, we thank you for your support.
About Us
A Brief Overview of the Association
A Brief Overview of the Association
Josiane Salone was my mother (photo). She fought as a free and courageous woman against this silent disease, despite its devastating acronym.
This association represents both a humble response to the promise I made to her and the continuation of the path she set for me: one of commitment, integrity, kindness, and compassion.
