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Recognizing September as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honoring the life of Dr. Roy Neil Gay and his dedication to treating patients with sickle cell disease.
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WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that changes round red blood cells into hard, crescent shapes, affects nearly 100,000 people in the United States; and
WHEREAS, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, celebrated in September, aims to bring awareness to the impacts of the disease and convene individuals and organizations in awareness events and other efforts to dispel myths about the disease, educate the public, and garner funding for sickle cell research and treatment efforts; and
WHEREAS, Worldwide, about 80% of the world's sickle cell disease cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for roughly 5 million out of the 7.7 million people globally affected by sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, nearly 3,000 adults live with sickle cell disease, and African American residents are particularly vulnerable. Approximately 1 in every 365 Black or African American individuals are living with the condition. In the United States, approximately 100,000 people live with sickle cell disease, and over 90% are African American; and
WHEREAS, South Asians, Middle Eastern, Hispanic or Latino, and Mediterranean populations are also more likely to be affected by sickle cell disease. Across the globe, millions of people of these descents have sickle cell disease or carry the trait, with India alone accounting for over 1 million cases. An estimated 60,000 - 90,000 infants in Saudi Arabia are born with sickle cell disease every year, and historical pockets also exist across parts of Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Of Hispanic and Latino populations, an estimated 3-9% have sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS, Impacts of sickle cell disease are very serious, and include chronic pain, stroke, organ damage, chronic anemia, infections, painful ...
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