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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-04-16, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2003. The entertainers Deb Siertsema, left, and Darlene VanderVeen performed during the annual Women’s Day Out, sponsored by Blyth United Church Women at Memorial Hall this past Saturday. The day offered opportunities for pampering, information and shopping as well. (Vicky Bremnerphoto) CF chapter renamed Huron Oxford Perth (HOPE) Chapter Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Letters to the editor MP informs on SARS THE EDITOR, To better represent the communities we serve, the Stratford District Chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been renamed the Huron Oxford Perth (HOPE) Chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The chapter also welcomes its new executive Josee Huard, vice-president, publicity and promotions; Donna Mitchell, secretary, vice-president fundraising; Doug Lester, treasurer; Cathie Szmon, president. May is Cystic Fibrosis month in Canada. CF is a Relief kit night a success THE EDITOR. I am writing to let your readers know of the remarkable success of the Iraqi Relief Kit evening held Saturday night in Goderich. Two weeks ago people from our community came together and decided to organize a Peace Vigil and Iraqi Relief evening. We had no idea what sort of response we could expect but we felt called to do something to support the call for peace, to support Stewart Vriesinga who is with the Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq and to support the Iraqi families displaced by the war. We set a target of assembling 50 kits. We gave ourselves a name, People for Peace, and invited our friends, our neighbours and local merchants to contribute supplies to assemble kits. We invited your readers through a letter to the editor. The response was wonderful. After the vigil we gathered at North Street United Church and held a potluck meal of peace and thanksgiving with over 50 in attendance. Then we got to work on the piles of boxes and bags of materials and fully assembled kits that had been gathered. devastating, inherited disease, which affects primarily the lungs and digestive system. While a growing number of young persons with CF are living into adulthood, CF remains fatal, taking the lives of more Canadian children and young adults than any other inherited disease. To find more information about Cystic Fibrosis and our chapter please contact our chapter president at Szmon@quadro.net or visit our national website at www.cysticfibrosis.ca Josee Huard VP Publicity and Promotions At one point we had a mountain of towels, toothbrushes and soap sitting on various tables. Parents, children and grandparents sorted and counted, bagged and carried. We ended the evening with 92 complete kits loaded in vehicles ready to deliver to Mennonite Central Committee in Kitchener. We also received cash donations which bring the total to 117 relief kits. We thank the high school students, the merchants and the families who gave generously to make it possible. We held a brief meeting at the end of the evening. Carol Bowyer reported that she had received a number of calls about the individual peace vigil. We were told that the churches in Brussels are planning to assemble relief kits and that we can send additional kits with them when they send theirs. We discussed future plans and are exploring a benefit concert with local musicians and also an evening on non­ violent alternatives to war. We will keep you posted. Yours for People for Peace, Tony McQuail. THE EDITOR, As you are aware, in recent weeks, the general public has become increasingly aware and concerned over instances of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Canada. Accordingly, I am writing to request your assistance with the timely dissemination of important information to your readership. Firstly, SARS is a condition tn which affected individuals develop symptoms such as muscle aches, sore throat, headache, mild respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing in conjunction with a fever (over 38.0 degrees Celsius). Essentially, the warning signs for SARS closely resemble some common flu-like symptoms. In all cases, medically supervised quarantine is required to avoid further spread. In some cases, the respiratory symptoms become increasingly severe, and require specific and aggressive medical treatment. Furthermore, in some rare instances, individuals with SARS have succumbed to the illness. Share Your Thoughts. Throne Speech Consultation 2003 Premier Ernie Eves wants to hear what you have to say about Ontario’s future. The results of a provincewide consultation will be reflected in the government’s April 30th Throne Speech. The Ontario Government is reaching out to all citizens, asking you - What can we do to keep Ontario strong? Our guiding principle is that a strong economy is the foundation upon which everything else is built: equality of opportunity in education, good jobs, health care you can count on, a happy retirement. The quality of life of every Ontarian depends upon the ability of the economy to fuel job creation and the prosperity necessary to fund our social programs. Give us your thoughts on Health Care, Education, Energy, the Economy, the Environment, Local Communities, Public Safety, or other matters, and we will listen and take action. Be a part of this historic consultation. Visit www.premier.gov.on.ca to fill out the consultation booklet online, call Publications Ontario at 1-800-668-9938 or pick one up at your local Government Information Centre. ® Ontario With respect to the diagnosis and treatment of SARS, while most industrialized nations, including Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working to develop and refine techniques of detection and remedy, at this moment there is no definitive medical cure for SARS. Because the cause is unknown, doctors treat the symptoms of the disease rather than the underlying virus or bacteria. That being said, like the common cold or the flu, in most instances the body’s natural immune system is capable of overcoming SARS. On the matter of transmission, in all cases, SARS patients who have not been linked to travel in Asia have had close personal contact with other infected individuals. In summary, while all cultural groups are equally susceptible to this illness, SARs is a new disease that originated in Asia. Its virulence and mortality rate is less than that of the flu and casual contraction of SARS is believed preventable with basic personal hygiene. Furthermore, the WHO suggests consultation with a family doctor prior to essential travel in Asia and further recommends that persons defer all non-essential travel to Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan until further notice. Most importantly, individuals who develop symptoms within 10 days of travel to Asia, or close contact with someone who has recently travelled to the region should seek medical intervention immediately. For additional and more specific information, please consult www.hc.gc.ca or your doctor. Sincerely, Paul Steckle, MP Huron-Bruce. Skaters pass tests Continued from page 3 Cronin, Matt Popp; Level Three Gold, Tyler Middegaal; Level Four Silver, Collin Whitfield; Level Four Gold, Matt Chalmers, Grant Sparling. The results of the last test night were: Swing, Kelly MacDonald and Vicki Cook; Willow, Natasha Hubbard; 14 Step, Jory Lynn Uyl; Jr. Bronze Freeskate, Katie McClinchey, Cassandra Uyl.