National Infectious Diseases Day
A Call for a Canada-Wide Strategy
OTTAWA - More than ever infectious diseases are threatening the health and lives of
Canadians. For this reason, organizations representing the infectious diseases sector are calling for a national
infectious disease strategy to be led by the federal government. The following organizations are collaborating
on this initiative: Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases (CFID); Association of Medical Microbiology
and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada); Community and Hospital Infection Control Association-
Canada (CHICA-Canada); Canadian Association for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(CACMID); International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID) and private-sector industry partners working in
the areas of infectious diseases and medical microbiology.
"Infections acquired in healthcare settings alone kill 8,000 to 12,000 Canadians a year," says Joanne Laalo,
president of CHICA-Canada, and "one in nine patients (an estimated 250,000 Canadians) who are admitted to
hospital every year pick up infections while being treated for something else."
To promote awareness and encourage action on infectious diseases, partnering organizations have named
October 18, 2007 National Infectious Diseases Day and will engage in advocacy activities with Members of
Parliament and Senators throughout the day. Recommendations for preventing, treating, and controlling
infectious diseases in Canada will be discussed as well as the need for research development.
Numerous healthcare professional associations, not-for-profit organizations, and industry officials have been
invited to join in the day's activities. National Infectious Disease Day partners will release a position paper on
Thursday, October 18, 2007 and the results of the day's activities will be disseminated at a later date.
Dr. Michel Laverdière, president of AMMI Canada declares, "Developing and implementing a national
infectious disease strategy would be a cost-effective investment for the long-term health and well-being of
Canadians."
National Infectious Disease Day takes place during International Infection Prevention Week, an event
commemorated around the world and recognized by the World Health Organization.
For more information, please visit www.nidd.ca.
END
For media inquires please contact:
Jennifer Forbes
Communications Manager, AMMI Canada
Tel: 613.260.3233, ext. 104
Fax: 613.260.3235
Email: communications@ammi.ca
"Reproduced with permission - AMMI Canada"
AMMI Canada
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