Governor Proclaims Sickle Cell Awareness Month 2022

WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is a serious inherited blood disorder, first diagnosed in the United States in 1910 that causes a myriad of physical complications, shortened life expectancy, and economic hardship; and

WHEREAS, sickle cell anemia refers to a group of inherited disorders in which a person’s body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells that resemble a crescent or sickle without the life expectancy of round red blood cells, which leads to anemia; and

WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is more common in certain ethnic groups, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that the disease occurs in approximately one of every 365 Black or African American births and in one of every 16,300 Hispanic American births; and

WHEREAS, vaso-occlusive crises are a common painful complication of sickle cell disease that can occur several times a year; they typically last several days and are the leading cause of hospitalizations of patients with sickle cell disease due to severe pain and potentially life-threatening complications, including stroke; and

WHEREAS, since 1973 and the passing of House Bill 32, the North Carolina Sickle Cell Syndrome Program has assisted residents diagnosed with sickle cell disease; and

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Sickle Cell Syndrome Program estimates that more than 100,000 people in our state have sickle cell trait or a related hemoglobin trait; through the services provided, children are identified early and enrolled in program services that substantially reduce their risk for early death; and

WHEREAS, implementation of services requires a comprehensive management approach including on-going education, care coordination, counseling, and clinical services involving close cooperation among agencies, healthcare providers, regional and community partners, and the State Laboratory of Public Health; and

WHEREAS, support for research on the treatment and management of this disease is vital to improving the health and quality of life of individuals with sickle cell disease;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September, 2022, as “SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.