Wound Care Awareness Week

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, it is estimated that nearly 7 million people currently live with chronic wounds, and that number is expected to grow at more than two percent annually for the next decade; and

WHEREAS, the rising incidence is fueled by an aging population and increasing rates of disease and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and the latent effects of radiation therapy; and

WHEREAS, untreated chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life, possible amputation of the affected limb, and a total annual cost of more than $50 billion to the healthcare system; and

WHEREAS, more than 37.3 million people (11.3% of population) have diabetes in the United States, and this number is expected to nearly double by 2030, increasing the instances of diabetic foot ulcers; and

WHEREAS, it is important to know the risks of diabetic foot ulcers because almost two million people will develop a foot ulcer or other non-healing wound; and

WHEREAS, advanced wound care aims to prevent amputations and heal patients in a faster and more cost-effective way; and

WHEREAS, wound care physicians and health care providers take great pride in caring for their patients and seeing their patients succeed; and

WHEREAS, awareness and education about chronic wounds will benefit current and future chronic wound patients; and

WHEREAS, the goal of Wound Care Awareness Week is to inform patients, their families, community physicians, and the public about the importance of advanced wound care and its ability to save lives and limbs;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize June 5-9, 2023, as WOUND CARE AWARENESS WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA and call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations