Toronto’s Mayor John Tory has lent (not given) his support with a Proclamation for for Awareness Day:
(I’m sorry there’s no written transcript for the image)
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Posted in Accessibility, Community, Disability, Environmental Sensitivities, Health Care, Housing, Human Rights, Policy
Tagged allergies, asthma, CFS/ME, chemical sensitivity, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ecopsychology, EHS, fibromyalgia, fragrance-free, human canaries, IAQ, invisible disabilities, MAID, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, proclamation, suicide, video
The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario (MEAO), along with others, has been working on a plan to get proper health care and supports established for the hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario who are affected by the “often overlapping, commonly disabling and sometimes life-threatening conditions of ES/MCS (Environmental Sensitivities/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), ME/CFS (Myalgic Encepahlomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and FM (Fibromyalgia).”
A quick, easy summary document of the features and benefits of the OCEEH business case proposal for a comprehensive network of care and support has been sent to every MPP in Ontario. Here it is for you too (copied from the PDF 2014 OCEEH IN A NUTSHELL), so you can encourage your local elected representatives to support it in Ontario, and to support similar plans everywhere else in the world:
ONTARIO CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (OCEEH)
‘IN A NUTSHELL’
“Five percent of Ontario’s population is affected by the often overlapping, commonly disabling and sometimes life-threatening conditions of ES/MCS (Environmental Sensitivities/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), ME/CFS (Myalgic Encepahlomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and FM (Fibromyalgia).
As of 2010, over 568,000 Ontarians had been diagnosed with one or more of these conditions. This number grew from 439,000 in 2005, as reported in Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey. It demonstrates prevalence comparable to diabetes, heart disease, cancer and effects of a stroke. These are very widespread conditions, and the 2010 figures are likely underestimates.
Recognition, diagnosis and treatment of these serious conditions are absent from Ontario’s health care system at present. Even though a commission of enquiry recommended services be put into place for ES/MCS as long ago as 1985, exclusion, discrimination and stigmatization of those living with these conditions have been the rule; and Ontario has lost physicians seeking to help these groups.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day
May 12, 2014
WHEREAS Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day aims to raise awareness and end the stigma and discrimination that accompanies these chronic illnesses.
Over 568,000 individuals living in Ontario are afflicted with one of the three following chronic illnesses: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Once diagnosed, an individual is often ill for years with as many as 70 per cent of sufferers becoming disabled for life.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a neurological and autoimmune disease characterized by overwhelming fatigue, pain, headaches, cardiac symptoms, immune disorders, dizziness and balance problems.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by severe musculoskeletal pain and tenderness in many areas of the body along with fatigue and sleep dysfunction, generalized or regional stiffness and in some cases neurological and cognitive symptoms. This pain can become strong enough to prevent people from working or engaging in physical activities for months and even years.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, also called Environmental Sensitivities or Intolerance, are initiated by an unusually severe sensitivity or allergy-like reaction to many different kinds of pollutants such as chemicals, perfumes and other environmental triggers.
Each year on May 12, communities across Ontario will join the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario to increase awareness and educate the medical profession about these chronic conditions. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day will raise funds to support the crucial services provided by the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario and other organizations.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Rob Ford, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim May 12, 2014 as “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day” in the City of Toronto.
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With thanks to MEAO (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario)
I’ve assembled prevalence statistics from Canada and the US into one place, including images and links to documents with more information.
Included are links and images with Canadian stats for MCS/ES, FM, and ME/CFS, and US stats for MCS. I will update to include more stats from more countries when I have reliable sources for them. Please share any that you are aware of.
The new page is located at the top of this site under the MCS/ES page, or via this link:
Statistics for MCS/ES, FM and ME/CFS
Here is a sample of what you will find there:
According to The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and Statistics Canada, between 2005 and 2010 the rates of people diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Canada increased significantly.
The number of people diagnosed with MCS increased by 31%
The number of people diagnosed with FM increased by 15%
The number of people diagnosed with CFS increased by 24%
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Chronic Conditions Prevalence Comparisons
(for perspective)
From: QUEST Newsletter Summer 2011 # 88
PDF http://www.mefmaction.com/images/stories/quest_newsletters/QUEST88Summer2011.pdf
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You can find all the statistics, links and images in the ‘Statistics for MCS/ES, FM and ME/CFS’ page at the top of this site under the MCS/ES page, or click on this link:
https://seriouslysensitivetopollution.wordpress.com/mcses/statistics-for-mcses-fm-and-mecfs/
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With gratitude to the National ME/FM Action Network for much of the material.
Seriously "Sensitive" to Pollution 