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Helicobacter pylori and Peptic Ulcer Disease
Proclaim Ulcer Awareness Week
A proclamation for Ulcer Awareness Week is a great way to involve the community and raise awareness about ulcers. Getting an official such as the mayor or the governor to make a proclamation is fairly simple as long as you know whether you need action from the city council or state legislature. Follow these tips to have an official proclaim Ulcer Awareness Week in your community.
When legislative action is not required:
- First, you should call your mayor or governor's office to understand how proclamations are issued in your region. Give yourself plenty of time because the proclamation process may take a few months. When you call, be sure to have materials ready that explain how the issue is relevant to your community in case they ask for a fax copy. A sample proclamation has been included in this kit for you to use as a template. The key to getting a proclamation is localizing relevant facts about ulcer disease and explaining why it is important that your city or state participates in Ulcer Awareness Week.
- When a proclamation is issued, include the mayor or governor in events you have planned during the week to show your appreciation. You should inform the media about the official attention you have received for Ulcer Awareness Week. After the week is over, send a letter of appreciation to the official.
When legislative action is required:
- Again, find out what the process is for getting official recognition. Contact your local representative's office to find out how to proceed.
- A member of an appropriate governmental body will need to sponsor the resolution for Ulcer Awareness Week. Find a representative who has been supportive of health care concerns and educate him/her on how Ulcer Awareness Week will benefit the over all health of the community.
- Find out from the representative supporting your bill how you can help ensure passage of the resolution. You may have to lobby to get other legislators to support the resolution. You can do this by writing or telephoning legislators to educate them on the importance of the resolution.
- After the resolution is passed, be sure to show your appreciation to all who supported the resolution.
Sample Proclamation
.Office of the [Governor/Mayor]
[State/City]Proclamation
Whereas, peptic ulcer disease affects nearly 25 million (one in 10) Americans, who will develop an ulcer at some time during their lives; and
Whereas, the burden of ulcer disease is estimated to be $6 billion annually in health care-related costs; and
Whereas, nine of every 10 ulcers is caused by an infectious bacterium, for which antibiotic therapy is over 90 percent effective; and
Whereas, only one quarter of Americans are aware of that most ulcers are caused by a bacterium, not by stress or spicy foods, and can be cured for good with antibiotics; and
Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the [state/local organization] have declared the week of October 6-13, 2003 as National Ulcer Awareness Week with the theme "Celebrate the Cure."
Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, [governor's/mayor's name], do hereby proclaim October 6-13, 2003, as Ulcer Awareness Week in the [state/city] of [name] and urge all our citizens to spread the good news about a cure for most ulcers to all citizens.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused this seal to be affixed.
[Governor's/Mayor's signature]
For information about H. pylori infection and ulcers,
see your health care provider or call toll-free: 1-888-MY-ULCER.Email Your Plans for Ulcer Awareness Week along with your thoughts and comments to ulcers@cdc.gov