MRSA Survivors Network, the Chicago-based nonprofit organization, launches their second annual World MRSA Day kick-off event at Loyola University Chicago on October 1, 2010. The 2010 global theme for World MRSA Day is: 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action.' Other events are planned in the United States, U.K. and Canada throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month.
"We have a fantastic event planned this year with organizations, students, health officials, infectious disease specialists, legislators and MRSA survivors and family members along with the community coming together from across the country to raise awareness for MRSA," states Jeanine Thomas, founder of World MRSA Day and MRSA Survivors Network. The October 1, 2010 kick-off event starts with a Press Conference at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Remembrance Ceremony, main event and Awards Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.
MRSA screening will be available at the event and this is the first time anywhere that MRSA screening (testing) has taken place worldwide as a part of World MRSA Day. The new World MRSA Day Web site, designed by the Maclyn Group can be found at www.worldmrsaday.org and downloadable posters are available.
2010 sponsors are: StaphAseptic, 3M, Roche, Loyola University Chicago, Loyola Medical Center, media sponsor: NBC5 Chicago. Rob Stafford, anchor for the NBC5 Chicago nightly news and contributing correspondent for NBC Dateline is the emcee.
Dr. William R. Jarvis is the Keynote Speaker for the event and also recipient of the first 'Barry M. Farr Lifetime Achievement Award.' Dr. Jarvis is president of Jason and Jarvis Associates LLC and was with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for twenty three years. Dr. Barry M. Farr, Emeritus of University of Virginia was one of the first infectious disease specialists to call attention to MRSA in the early 1980's and screened for MRSA at his university hospital (UVA) and controlled MRSA. The Lifetime Achievement Award is named in his honor.
Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK is honored with the 'Man of the Year Award' and Christine Cahill, RN is the recipient of the 'Woman of the Year Award.' U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois will receive a 'Public Service Award' along with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.
MRSA activists call for world unity from governments, health officials and organizations to take immediate action by declaring MRSA an ongoing epidemic, and appropriate funds for educational, awareness, and prevention programs to the public and healthcare industry.
The 2008 Seattle Times investigative series - 'Culture of Resistance' and the recent Las Vegas Sun's - 'Do No Harm' series illustrate the unrecognized magnitude of this epidemic – far greater than H1N1 influenza. The failed leadership in action and systematic failure to take action has cost countless lives and needless pain and suffering, with more Americans dying every year from invasive MRSA infections than from HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's Disease or H1N1 influenza.
Co-chairs of the annual event are Illinois State Representative Patti Bellock, Pat Merryweather – Senior Vice President of Illinois Hospital Association and Jeanine Thomas of MRSA Survivors Network.
Jeanine Thomas of MRSA Survivors Network is a survivor of MRSA, sepsis and C. difficile and became critically ill and nearly died after ankle surgery. She was the first patient/consumer advocate in the United States to raise the alarm about MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections and launched World MRSA Day in 2009.
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