WHEREAS, digestive diseases, in general, rank first among illnesses for total economic burden making up about 15% of all direct health care costs, therefore being the country’s most important health care issue, and 20 to 30% of the general North American population experience bothersome upper or lower digestive tract motility disturbances on a chronic basis; and

WHEREAS, this family of digestive motility diseases/disorders which are caused by a poorly understood neuro-muscular dysfunction of the gut that may produce in any region of the digestive tract chronic motor and sensory disturbances characterized by weakened, spastic or failed propulsion (motility) of food through the digestive system; and

WHEREAS, , compared to all other illnesses, gastroparesis and other digestive motility disorders/diseases cause the highest rate of workplace absenteeism, and gastroparesis represents the most severe degree of these symptoms, and with so few medical treatment options available, this digestive disease disable individuals in the prime of their lives; and

WHEREAS, there is not one drug currently in the North American market designed specifically for the enormously large group of patients who suffer from this rare stomach illness; and patients, who may appear well but are nevertheless suffering, must struggle against lack of support from the medical community, employers, teachers, family and friends, who do not understand living with this condition; and

WHEREAS, , patients must live life in the unknown with daily symptoms and flare-ups, no medication and poor medical education and lack of public awareness, which leaves most with no hope for the future; and lack of awareness surrounding any digestive disorder is the largest problem facing patients today; and

WHEREAS, national and international organizations, such as the ‘Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign Organization’ are here to educate the health care community and general public regarding the serious nature of Gastroparesis and other digestive motility diseases by providing information on treatment, early detection and symptom management but most important hope for a better future;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim the month of August 2009