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The Arts4All Foundation and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst joined members of the Queens community on May 22, 2026, to commemorate National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and address growing concerns over the increasing prevalence of respiratory, immune, and lung health conditions, particularly asthma, across the borough.
According to a statement from the Arts4All Foundation, recent data from the New York State Department of Health and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst indicate that Queens continues to face a disproportionate burden of asthma-related health challenges. Neighborhoods including Elmhurst, Astoria, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Rego Park, Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis, and the Rockaways report some of the highest rates of asthma hospitalizations, asthma-related deaths, school absences linked to asthma, and poor pulmonary health outcomes.
Observed each May, National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month was established in 1984 to raise awareness of chronic respiratory and immune conditions during the peak season for asthma and allergy triggers.
“I am honored to join Dr. Sumita SenGupta and the Arts4All Foundation at this important asthma awareness program. Our Pulmonology Medicine team is committed to delivering the highest-quality care, and that includes taking on some of the most complex respiratory health challenges of our state, which is the rise in chronic asthma,” said Alina Moran, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “I thank Dr. Alfredo Astua and our incredible Pulmonary Medicine team for providing life-saving treatments, researching and advancing medical practices, advocating for health equity, and educating our community on asthma care, triggers, treatment, and prevention.”
A key feature of the event was the launch of the Universal Declaration of Asthma Rights by the Arts4All Foundation. The document outlines proposed rights related to asthma care, including medical care, education, environmental protection, housing, employment, disability accommodations, social welfare, justice, and equality. The declaration was signed by community members, healthcare professionals, and staff from NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. According to organizers, it has also garnered thousands of online signatures from supporters advocating for its adoption into law.
Dr. Sumita SenGupta, founder of the Arts4All Foundation, organizer of the event, and author of the declaration, emphasized the need for greater awareness and policy action.
“Every year between 400,000 and 460,000 lives worldwide are taken by asthma; that is 11 Americans per day and roughly 299 New Yorkers annually, in which the overwhelming majority of these deaths are preventable. Premature deaths caused by manageable illnesses are unacceptable and an infringement on our most basic human rights. As we commemorate National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, we are proud to join with the community and our healthcare officials at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst to introduce the Universal Declaration of Asthma Rights.”
She added, “Let us work to strengthen health, environmental, educational, and housing protections for communities overburdened by heavy congestion, high pollution, limited resources, poor living conditions, and health inequity to address the underlying causes of the rapid increase in asthma and thereby reduce barriers, improve health outcomes, and enhance the quality of life and healthcare services for all.”
The program also featured a public forum led by Moran, Dr. Alfredo Astua, Chief of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, and other pulmonary medicine specialists. Dr. Astua delivered a presentation covering asthma symptoms, triggers, treatments, prevention strategies, caregiver guidance, and available support services, while also discussing factors contributing to rising asthma rates and the hospital’s pulmonary care initiatives.
“This program organized by Dr. Sumita SenGupta and the Arts4All Foundation highlights our hospital’s longstanding commitment to serving our community at a critical time for Queens,” said Dr. Astua.
Among the guest speakers was Dr. Purvi Parikh, allergist, immunologist, researcher, author, and professor, who addressed the growing prevalence of asthma in New York.
“I thank Dr. Sumita Sengupta for organizing this important community program at Elmhurst Hospital and urge our local lawmakers to provide systematic solutions, policies, and resources to address the rise in asthma rates across New York. Asthma awareness and prevention are essential in building sustainable and equitable communities, as the issue highlights longstanding inequities in healthcare, education, housing, environment, urban planning, and community development,” said Dr. Parikh, vice chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Asthma and Allergy.
Representatives from the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) also participated in the event. Albert Silvestri, Deputy Queens Borough Commissioner, and Emanuel Evans, Queens Borough Planner for Community Boards 3 and 4, discussed the agency’s role in reducing air pollution through safer, cleaner, and less congested transportation infrastructure.
“We thank NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst and the Arts4All Foundation for hosting an informative and inspiring asthma program on National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Our role is ensuring that neighborhoods across our city have safe, walkable, and clean streets, and we are looking forward to continuing to advance projects that build transportation connections, create safer roadways, reduce congestion, and improve the quality of life of all New Yorkers. We look forward to continuing to engage with the community in building a stronger, safer, and healthier Queens,” said Silvestri.
The event also highlighted the long-term respiratory health challenges faced by 9/11 first responders. Organizers noted that first responders are significantly more likely to develop chronic asthma because of exposure to toxic dust and chemicals at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks.
Retired FDNY EMT and 9/11 first responder Ivonne Sanchez shared her personal experience living with chronic asthma and cancer linked to exposure during the World Trade Center rescue and recovery efforts.
“Long-term lung inflammation, asthma, and respiratory conditions do not run in my family, and I was not born with asthma, but I, like many of my fellow 9/11 first responders, suffer from chronic asthma and developed cancer due to the heightened exposure to World Trade Center dust without proper equipment to protect our lungs and upper airways. Air quality matters, and the damage done is irreversible. First responders often have to navigate high-risk emergencies that are unpredictable and unsafe and therefore need advanced safety equipment to mitigate physical, chemical, and biological hazards. I thank Dr. Sumita SenGupta and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst for spreading awareness on the immediate health and safety needs in emergency safety management and the critical health issues of first responders,” Sanchez said.
The program concluded with a demonstration on the proper use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) spacer by Ambika Devi Sengupta, a five-year-old Queens resident living with moderate asthma and prolonged COVID-19 complications.
“Living with asthma can be hard, but you are not alone because I have asthma too, and you can get better with help. When I get sick, I am not well for longer than other kids, and if I run or play too fast, I can feel super tired, and at night while I am sleeping, I find it hard to breathe. That is why it is important to learn how to take your medicine to get the help you need to be better. With my medicine I can still play and be me, so you can too,” she said.
At the conclusion of the event, the Arts4All Foundation distributed 500 gift packages containing nasal strips, allergy-friendly treats, anxiety-support toys and stickers, and educational materials on identifying asthma triggers and managing symptoms. Organizers also provided hundreds of lunches donated by Gyanu Thapa, owner of Gorkhali Restaurant, and Rekha Shrestha, owner of Sunrise Karahi House. Desserts included rainbow sprinkles mango cake pops prepared by Shree Devi SenGupta, parent of a child living with asthma.
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