MRSA Survivors Network to raise awareness on MRSA infections

More Americans die annually from invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections than from HIV/AIDS, H1N1 influenza and Parkinson's disease, yet the United States and many other countries' health officials continue to ignore the global crisis.

"Everyone knows someone who has been affected by MRSA," states founder Jeanine Thomas, a survivor of MRSA, sepsis and C. difficile who became critically ill after surgery and nearly died.

MRSA Survivors Network, the Chicago-based nonprofit and official organization for World MRSA Day is building their momentum for the annual World MRSA Day kickoff event, October 1st at Loyola University Chicago (Northshore campus). The 2010 theme is: "The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action.' www.worldmrsaday.org.

Other fellow MRSA activists are planning events across the United States and in Europe on October 2nd, raising awareness around the globe and also during the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month. MRSA Action UK, MRSA Survivors Networks' alliance partner will be coordinating  events in England and their annual MRSA Memorial Event will be held July 8th at Westminster Abbey. MRSA Survivors Network will be sending a U.S. delegation to lend support and increase solidarity between the two organizations in their combined global effort to raise awareness.

Now is the time for fellow MRSA activists to plan their World MRSA Day, October 2nd event in their community and join the movement to raise awareness. Hold an event at a local school, place of worship, community center, park, state capital steps or healthcare facility.

2010 sponsors who have lent their support to date are: StaphAseptic (Tec Labs), 3M and Loyola University Chicago. The annual event has moved to a larger facility and organizers are planning some exciting additions to the program and event.

The German documentary by Rhizom Films, 'MRSA – the Silent Killer/Plague' debuted in Germany in April. The film will be shown in part during the World MRSA Day kickoff event, October 1st in Chicago. The documentary was filmed in the United States, Germany and Holland and is the first documentary to reveal how devastating the MRSA epidemic is. Jeanine Thomas of MRSA Survivors Network was a consultant to the producers and film director.

Dr. William Jarvis, of  Jason & Jarvis Associates, LLC  will be the recipient of the 'Barry M. Farr Lifetime Achievement Award' - for his dedication and international work in raising awareness, educating Ministries of Health and infection preventionists worldwide on MRSA prevention. Dr. Barry M. Farr, professor emeritus at UVA was a pioneer in ADI – active detection and contact isolation, starting in the early 1980s at his university hospital and was the first to control MRSA infections in the United States.

Co-chairs of the Chicago World MRSA Day kickoff event are: Illinois State Rep. Patti Bellock, Pat Merryweather- Sr. Vice President of Illinois Hospital Association, Jeanine Thomas and Velda Davino of MRSA Survivors Network. The annual event brings members of the community and the healthcare industry together to raise awareness and educate others about prevention.

MRSA Activists call for action by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Surgeon General, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Ministers of Health to declare MRSA an ongoing epidemic and pandemic and to take immediate action to obtain needed funds to raise awareness, initiate educational campaigns and to provide funding for healthcare facilities to launch active detection and isolation (ADI) programs.