MRSA Survivors Network founder organizes the first Inaugural World MRSA Day

MRSA Survivors Network founder, Jeanine Thomas has organized the first Inaugural World MRSA Day Kick-off event on October 1st in Chicago at Loyola University. Other events will be held across the globe and in the U.S. on October 2nd and throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month.

The historic day will start with an international press conference at 10:00 a.m. followed by the event at 11:00 a.m. Founder Jeanine Thomas states, "It is our hope that we raise public awareness and that the public will demand aggressive and immediate action by world health organizations and governments in prevention of this disease. We hope to lift the veil of secrecy that surrounds MRSA, which is long overdue. Too many lives have been lost. It is going to be a fantastic event."

The event will begin with a Remembrance Ceremony for all of the MRSA victims who have lost their lives and a memorial service and prayer is planned. It will be the first time ever that recognition for MRSA victims in the U.S. has taken place. During the main event, MRSA survivors and families who have lost loved ones will share their powerful and moving personal stories. The event is open to the public.

MRSA Survivors Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit comprised of volunteers was the first organization in the U.S. to raise the alarm about MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections in 2003. Its founder, Jeanine Thomas is a survivor of MRSA, sepsis and C. Difficile. She became critically ill and nearly died after ankle surgery.

MRSA Survivors Network has built a strong alliance with Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK; another prominent leader in the fight to raise public awareness and campaign for change. MRSA Action UK will co-ordinate events in the UK for World MRSA Day, Oct. 2nd.

The official site for World MRSA Day is www.worldmrsaday.org and lists information on events occurring and also provides downloadable posters for World MRSA Day, Oct. 2nd and World MRSA Awareness Month, October.

Companies have stepped up and given support in the U.S. for the Oct. 1st groundbreaking inaugural event. 3M, staphAseptic, Cepheid, Pfizer, Abbott Molecular and Clorox are all part of this historic event and made it happen. Founder Jeanine Thomas says, "We want people to leave with a sense of hope that government and world health officials will finally take notice and immediately react to this crisis and declare and give MRSA epidemic and pandemic status."