HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-327RESOLUT]:ON NO. 03-327
A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMTN6 THE MONTH OF
DECEMBER, 2003, AS "JOEV BER65MA
RET~NOBLASTOMA AWARENESS MONTH" TN ST. LUCTE
COUNTY, FLORIDA
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucia County, Florida, has
made the following determinations:
t. Retinoblastoma is a very rare disease that affects children, causing the
growth of malignant tumors in the retinal cell layer of the eye. Ninety percent of the
cases occur in the first five years of life; and,
2. ]:t is the most common eye tumor in children, the third most common cancer
that affects children overall and, if left untreated, Retinoblastoma is almost always fatal;
and,
3. Over the past 60 years, the frequency with which Retinoblastoma occurs
has increased and is seen in one out of every :12,000 children in the United .States and
7,000 children worldwide die from the disease each year due to the delay in diagnosis;
and,
4. The key to saving lives and preserving visual function, is the early diagnosis
and treatment of this disease; and,
5. .St. Lucie County supports eye pathology screening at birth and all well-baby
exams to ensure that everything is being done to detect ocular diseases in newborns,
infants and toddlers. The examination only adds ten seconds of time to the regular exam
and costs pennies-a small price to pay to ensure health vision for all of our children.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
St. Lucia County, Florida:
This Board does hereby proclaim the month of December, 2003, as "JOEY
BER6SMA RE'I-~.NOBLASTOMA AWARENESS MONTH" in St. Lucia County, Florida.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this J0th day of December, 2003.
ATTEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMTSSTONER$
ST. LUCTE COUNTY, FLORTDA
BY:
CHATRMAN- ~ ,7
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND
¢Ot~ECTNES$:
COUNTY A TTO,~~