World MRSA Day to Fight for Global Action and Awareness

World MRSA Day, October 2 and World MRSA Awareness Month, October to fight against global inaction and to raise awareness to the global MRSA crisis.

CHICAGO, Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 3rd Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event and Global MRSA Summit will be held October 1, 2011 at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Illinois. The 2011 Global theme is: 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action.'

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"The rapidly escalating human suffering and loss of life from MRSA in the United States and in other countries needs to be recognized and an immediate international response for prevention, awareness and education is imperative," states Jeanine Thomas founder of MRSA Survivors Network and World MRSA Day.  MRSA deaths in the Unites States have surpassed the number of those dying from HIV/AIDS every year.

A study released this year shows a projection of MRSA infections in the United States to rise from 2.9 million to 4.2 million from 2009-2015 and skin infection treatment days in the United States are projected to rise from 20 million to 30 million from 2009-2015 and with a yearly estimated cost of $9.5 billion. Yet the response from international and U.S. health officials has been silence.

The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) must begin to understand that the MRSA and antimicrobial resistance global crisis has been seriously neglected and deserves immediate attention from institutional and health authorities in developed and developing nations. The denial among government officials of either the existence of MRSA or its prevalence is a significant barrier to addressing the global MRSA epidemic. MRSA is not just prevalent in humans but also in animals, the environment and in food supplies.

The WHO, UN and CDC must  immediately develop and implement a MRSA surveillance and reporting system for all countries, collect MRSA infection and colonization data and  release the data so the true magnitude of the MRSA pandemic can become apparent worldwide.  Transparency is imperative.  Active detection and isolation (ADI) in all health care facilities worldwide should be implemented.

The World MRSA Day Kickoff event and Global MRSA Summit on October 1, 2011 at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine will broadcast live via web stream and bring together MRSA experts, MRSA survivors, family members, health officials, university students and the community to learn more about MRSA and to help raise awareness.

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

The third annual World MRSA Day global kickoff event and Global MRSA Summit on October 1, 2011 program will  begin at 10:30 A.M. 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.

Mr. Rob Stafford of NBC Chicago is the emcee and Dr. William R. Jarvis, a world renowned MRSA and infectious disease specialist is Keynote Speaker. Dr. Jorge Parada, Associate Professor of Medicine and infectious disease Specialist at Loyola University Health System also will be presenting and MRSA survivors and their family members will speak and share their personal stories. Music is provided by Tracy Jackson and members of the King of Glory Tabernacle Choir. The Award Ceremony follows the main event with Dr. Barry M. Farr, Emeritus, UVA being the recipient of the first Humanitarian Award.  At the end of the event 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.

MRSA Survivors Network, the prominent global non-profit organization was the first to raise the alarm about the MRSA and healthcare-acquired epidemic in 2003 in the United States and launched their global MRSA awareness campaign by founding and organizing the Chicago World MRSA Day kickoff event in 2009.  MRSA Survivors Network operates the only MRSA crisis hotline in the U.S. for victims and families and also provides wound care items for patients with surgical site infections.  Founder, Jeanine Thomas became critically ill with MRSA sepsis and then C. difficile after ankle surgery.

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating the awareness days in October, 2009. To help raise awareness, MRSA Survivors Network has produced the first non-profit public service announcements (PSA's) for general MRSA awareness with Mr. Rob Stafford of NBC Chicago and NBC Dateline and  will air on NBC Chicago stations and also can be viewed on MRSA Survivors Network's YouTube channel. Downloadable posters, web banners, e-card and a brochure are available at the World MRSA Day web site.

MRSA Survivors Network's European alliance partner, MRSA Action UK will be holding and participating in events throughout October, World MRSA Awareness Month in England. Other U.S. events are taking place in Altamont, Illinois- MRSA Missions, University of Illinois Medical School, Peoria, IL, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sioux Falls, S.D., and other organizations still in the planning stage.  MRSA Survivors Network urges community and faith –based organizations, schools and healthcare facilities worldwide to get involved and help to raise awareness by planning an event.

Aruba artist, Monica E. Oduber, has created the first MRSA painting 'Starseed' to draw attention to the MRSA epidemic and plans to exhibit her MRSA paintings during the Chicago World MRSA Day kickoff event on October 1, 2011 and this will be the first international exhibit of her paintings to raise awareness for MRSA.

For further information on how your company or organization can become an official sponsor, volunteer or donate, contact MRSA Survivors Network at [email protected], 630 325-4354 USA or visit us at Twitter - www.Twitter.com/MRSAsurvivors or on Facebook  at www.Facebook.com/MRSASurvivorsNetwork  

SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network