World MRSA Day Event and Global MRSA Summit Live Broadcast October 1, 2011

CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fifty years ago this October, MRSA emerged into the world and is now a major global epidemic and the most common cause of antimicrobial resistant pathogen healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in most U.S. healthcare facilities.

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"The MRSA pandemic continues to be a major public health threat and crisis along with other antimicrobial- resistant pathogens and must become a top political priority worldwide," states Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network and World MRSA Day.

The third annual World MRSA Day  kickoff event and Global MRSA Summit at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine will be held on October 1, 2011 in Maywood, Illinois and will broadcast live via web stream on MRSA Survivors Network's website and the World MRSA Day website.  The program begins at 10:30 a.m. central with a Remembrance Ceremony and prayer by Reverend Henry Soles, senior chaplain for the Chicago Bulls basketball team to remember and honor all of those who have lost their lives to MRSA around the world. The event is open to the public with free parking and families are encouraged to attend.

Sponsors are: Tec Labs, Roche, Pfizer, BD, Loyola University Health System and media sponsor NBC Chicago.  

Keynote Speaker is Dr. William R. Jarvis of Jason & Jarvis Associates LLC, a world-renowned MRSA expert and formerly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mr. Rob Stafford, anchor of the NBC Chicago evening news and contributing correspondent for NBC Dateline is the emcee. Dr. Jorge Parada, Associate Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease Specialist at Loyola University Health System also will be presenting along with Dr. Michael Pulia. MRSA survivors and their family members will speak and share their personal stories. Music is provided by Tracy Jackson of the King of Glory Tabernacle Choir. After the awards ceremony there will be a 30 minute seminar for those in the community who want to learn more about MRSA, how to get involved, raise awareness and become a 'MRSA Survivors Champion' in their own community.

Monica E. Oduber, an artist from Aruba has created the first MRSA painting 'Starseed' to draw attention to the MRSA epidemic and will exhibit several of her paintings during the October 1, 2011 event and hopes other artists around the world will become inspired.

The 2011 global theme is 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action' brings critical attention to the public health crisis.  MRSA Survivors Network urgently pleas for the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to finally recognize  the MRSA pandemic and set up a worldwide surveillance program and  strongly recommend pro-active implementation of ADI to control MRSA in healthcare  facilities.

MRSA Survivors Network, the prominent global non-profit organization was the first to raise the alarm about the MRSA epidemic in the United States and launched their global MRSA awareness campaign by founding and organizing the Chicago World MRSA Day kickoff event in 2009.  To help raise awareness, MRSA Survivors Network has produced with True Productions the first non-profit public service announcements (PSA's) for general MRSA awareness with Mr. Rob Stafford of NBC Chicago and they are airing on NBC Chicago stations and also can be viewed on MRSA Survivors Network's YouTube channel. Downloadable posters, web banners and a brochure are available at the World MRSA Day web site.

MRSA Survivors Network announces their 2011 awards and will honor recipients during the October 1, 2011 event; Barry M. Farr M.D., Emeritus of UVA is recipient of the 'Humanitarian Award' for his outstanding work, dedication and service to raising awareness and preventing MRSA infections. 'Man of the Year' award recipient is Loren G. Miller, M.D. M.P.H., Associate Professor of Medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine and investigator of CA-MRSA treatment and prevention at the Los Angeles BioMedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and 'Woman of the Year' is Illinois State Representative Patti Bellock who is being honored for her groundbreaking MRSA legislation and awareness. The 'Public Service' award is presented to the Veterans Administration Health System for their exemplary dedication to patient safety in preventing MRSA infections. Loyola University Health System will receive the 'Hospital Leader Award' for their dedication in reducing MRSA infections using ADI.

Since 2007, Loyola University Medical Center has been among the first hospitals in the nation to initiate several aggressive strategies to detect and reduce MRSA, including screening hospital patients and offering a clinic, dedicated to treating MRSA. "Loyola's effort to control MRSA has been recognized and lauded at national and international infectious disease meetings," states Jorge Parada, medical director of the infection control program.

World MRSA Awareness Month, October - Times Square, New York City
World MRSA Day, October 2 and World MRSA Awareness Month is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against MRSA, healthcare-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance while increasing awareness, improving education, and emphasizing the importance of prevention through screening.

To help raise awareness for World MRSA Awareness Month a photo along with a caption will be featured on Reuters/PRNewswire's digital billboard the first week of October and will be viewed by over one million people.

MRSA Survivors Network's European alliance partner, MRSA Action UK will be participating in events throughout October, World MRSA Awareness Month in England; October 12, 2011 –NHS Trust, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and October 17, 2011 Dorset County Hospital, NHS Foundation.

Other U.S. events are taking place at: MRSA Missions- Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont, Illinois starting at 10:00 a.m. with prayer, guest speakers and refreshments and in Salt Lake City, Utah a memorial event is planned. Many V.A. hospitals have planned MRSA awareness programs during the month of October.

For further information on how you can get involved, be a sponsor, volunteer or donate, contact MRSA Survivors Network at [email protected], 630-325-4354 USA or visit us at www.Twitter.com/MRSAsurvivors or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MRSASurvivorsNetwork.  

SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network