Justin Baty Amebic Foundation

Statement of the problem:

The lack of educational resources, public information and medical research leaves swimmers unaware and susceptible to PAM (Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis) a fatal disease caused by an ameba that lives in fresh water 80 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

Goals & Objectives

Goal #1 Establish education resources for patients and their families.

This will be achieved by:

Objective A: Establish an informative Website.
Objective B: Develop and Distribute Pamphlets to state-wide organizations including, but not limited to, chambers of commerce, parks, swimming pools, lakes and resorts, etc.
Objective C: Establish a Support System and Network.

Goal #2 Establish educational resources for physicians and other medical personnel.

This will be achieved by:

Objective A: Establish an informative Website.
Objective B: Establish a Network of Physicians with a history of treating PAM for sharing information and resources.
Objective C: Assist physicians, medical research groups and organizations with developing a cure for PAM and develop necessary information to prevent PAM.

Goal # 3 Develop and informative educational system to increase the public awareness of PAM and its susceptible populations.

This will be achieved by:

Objective A: Encourage schools to educate students about the risks of swimming in fresh water during the peak “hot season” of July 1 - Mid September, when water temperatures are at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the optimal living conditions for the ameba that causes PAM.
Objective B: Work with the Centers for Disease Control and state health departments to establish guidelines for swimmers to remain safe during the peak “hot season”.
Objective C: Encourage and educate swimmers to use nose plugs in order to prevent the contraction of PAM.
Objective D: Educate health departments about the proper and necessary chemical treatments in order to prevent the ameba in public swimming pools as well as decrease the risks to swimmers.
Objective E: Establish a protocol for the cleansing and “water-turnover” policies for public water bodies in order to decrease the risks of contracting PAM of recreational users of public water sources.
Objective F: Develop information points to encourage safety and prevention of PAM. This may be accomplished through an informational website, signs and brocures at public bodies of water, Physcians Offices, and educational programs.

The mission of the Justin Baty Amebic Foundation is to educate, prevent, and effect a cure for Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis.