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No Warranties or Representations
Lyme Disease symptoms vary from person to person. (lymes disease lyme's disease lime disease limes disease)
The data and information presented in this web site are presented in good faith and believed to be accurate regarding Lyme disease (commonly misspelled lymes disease lyme's disease lime disease limes disease) and other related diseases. Any and all liability for the content or any omissions including any inaccuracies, errors, or misstatements in such data or information is expressly disclaimed. The web site is compiled for the sole purpose of informing community members of resources and information pertaining to Lyme Borreliosis Disease and its coinfections. Lyme disease symptoms may vary from person to person.
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Consult a qualified Lyme ( Borreliosis ) Disease literate doctor for medical advice if Lyme Disease is suspect to discuss your Lymes Disease Symptoms.
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CanLyme asks for federal strategy on Lyme disease
Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health
Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney's Pasture
Postal Locator: 0906C
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0K9
E-mail: Minister_Ministre@hc-sc.gc.ca
December 6, 2007
Dear Minister Clement:
This letter is a follow-up from a meeting at the Brooke Claxton Building in Ottawa with representatives from your office on November 19, 2007. Our organization, the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, presented our concerns about Lyme disease in Canada and a dialogue followed. The objectives of the meeting for our organization were: to raise the profile of Lyme Disease at the level of the Federal Government; to follow-up from the National Lyme Disease Meeting (March 2006); to encourage implementation of a National Lyme Disease Strategy; and to build partnerships between the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation and Government of Canada.
We are formally requesting that the Government of Canada implement a National Lyme Disease Strategy. This is necessary because:
1. Lyme disease is an emerging disease worldwide; it is on the increase and it is threatening the health and productivity of untold numbers of Canadians. Lyme disease can cause serious disability and death.
2. Current Canadian health policy on Lyme is based on assumptions that have proven false. Lyme is very under-diagnosed and under-reported and patients are suffering unnecessarily. Canada needs excellent prevention programs and early diagnosis strategies to reduce the number of Canadians who are developing the difficult-to-treat and debilitating chronic form of the disease.
3. Lyme disease has a major environmental component. It is generally contracted from infected ticks. One very dangerous incorrect assumption relates to the geographic distribution of infected ticks. It was assumed that there were only a few pockets. Now it is coming to light that the problem is much more widespread. It is possible to come into contact with infected ticks anywhere in Canada as infected ticks are spread by migratory birds. With climate change, the distribution of Lyme will evolve rapidly as tick habitats become more widespread.
4. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research advised us that there is essentially no money for new research on Lyme disease. A National Strategy is needed to encourage research and target funds for Lyme research.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) convened a meeting of stakeholders in March 2006 to work a new Canadian Lyme policy. The report from that meeting has not yet been released but recommendations included setting up committees to explore issues around diagnosis (including lab testing) and treatment, conducting surveillance studies, developing public and professional awareness programs and supporting research development. The implementation of these recommendations would be key elements of the new national strategy.
Each of the presenters at our meeting on November 19th gave urgent reasons why the Government of Canada needs to act. Jim Wilson gave feedback from the thousands of Canadians with Lyme disease that contact our organization each year seeking help. Dr. Ernie Murakami spoke of his medical experience in treating Canadians with Lyme disease and pointed out how unprepared the Canadian health system is in recognising and treating Lyme disease. Dr. Satyen Banerjee spoke about his experience in the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme and how Lyme infection is spread. Sherry Drew spoke as a mother of a very sick child with Lyme and the impact of her family and the families of so many other Canadians. Janet Sperling eloquently asked that the Government of Canada to provide guidelines so that physicians can make an educated choice on diagnosis and treatment protocols. Margaret Parlor from the National ME/FM Action Network outlined the connection between Lyme and chronic illness in Canadians and the urgent need for action in this area. Dr. Joan McComas requested follow-up from March 2006 National Lyme Disease Meeting and the implementation of a National Lyme Disease Strategy.
We see the National Lyme Disease Strategy as an important way that the Government of Canada can provide leadership in dealing with the threat of Lyme disease. We see it as having five major component including strategies to: 1) know extent of Lyme disease in Canada; 2) prevent Lyme disease; 3) develop and implement effective diagnosis and treatment; 4) treat, care and support people affected by Lyme disease; and 5) develop research.
We implore the Minister of Health to ensure that the Canadian policy on Lyme disease reflects the seriousness of the problem and reflects the current science.
Sincerely,
Joan McComas PhD
Director
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation
Jim Wilson AIIC
President
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation
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