Backup Documents 04/23/2013 Item # 4A PROCLAMATION 'T A
WHEREAS, each year, the Lupus Foundation of America designated May as National Lupus Awareness
Month to show support for the estimated .1.5 million Americans who have lupus; and,
WHEREAS, lupus is a cruel and mysterious chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the immune
system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every organ
system in the body; and,
WHEREAS, lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart, kidneys and brain.
No organ is spared and the disease can also cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks,
miscarriages and organ failure; and,
WHEREAS, lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age, but African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos,
Asians and Native Americans are two to three times more likely to develop lupus- a
disparity that remains unexplained; and,
WHEREAS, lupus can be particularly difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those
of many other illnesses and major gaps exist in understanding the causes and
consequences of lupus; more than half of all lupus cases take four or more years and
visits to multiple doctors before obtaining a correct diagnosis; and,
WHEREAS, there has only been one lupus-specific drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration in the last 52 years and current treatments have damaging side effects;
and,
WHEREAS, 100,000 Floridians are affected by lupus and the Lupus Foundation of America Southeast
Florida Chapter encourages citizens to observe this month by educating themselves on the
symptoms and impact of lupus and to support programs of research, education and
community service.
NOW THEREFORE, be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida,
that May 2013 be designated as
LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH
DONE AND ORDERED THIS 23'd Day of April, 2013.
BOARD of COUNTY CO• MISSIONERS
COLLI-R C!,U11QTY, F ORIDA
GEORGIA A. HILLER, CHAIRWOMAN k. • ,
ATTEST:
•WI T E. =ROCK, CLERK