Res. No. 980

Resolution declaring June 19 of each year Sickle Cell Awareness Day in the City of New York.

By Council Members Miller, Barron, Cornegy, Louis, Chin, Holden, Eugene, Rivera, Ayala, Deutsch, Koo, Torres, Cabrera, Richards, Rose, Moya, King, Menchaca, Perkins, Ampry-Samuel and Reynoso

Whereas, Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders; and

Whereas, Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body and people with SCD inherit two abnormal hemoglobin genes, one from each parent; and

Whereas, The abnormal hemoglobin gene can cause red blood cells to become sickle-shaped (crescent-shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels; and

Whereas, Those who have inherited an abnormal hemoglobin gene from one parent but a normal hemoglobin gene from the other parent have sickle cell trait (SCT); and

Whereas, People with SCT usually do not have any of the signs of the disease, but they can pass the trait on to their children; and

Whereas, According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SCD is more common among people whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa, Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere, Saudi Arabia, India, and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy; and

Whereas, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that about 2 million people in the United States have SCT, and the CDC estimates about 100,000 Americans have SCD; and

Whereas, According to the CDC, approximately one out of every 365 Black or African American babies is born with SCD, and about 1 in every 13 Black or African American babies is born with SCT; and

Whereas, According to the CDC, there were approximately 8,374 people with SCD living in New York State in 2004-2008; and

Whereas, In 2008, 197 babies were born with SCD in New York State; and

Whereas, SCD occurred among approximately 1 out of every 1,259 births, and 1 out of every 260 Black or African American births; and

Whereas, Of the 197 babies born with SCR in New York State in 2008, 89 percent were Black or African American; and 

Whereas, In 2008, 56 babies were born with SCD in the Bronx, the highest number in the State, followed by 47 in Brooklyn and 23 in Queens; and

Whereas, The severity of SCD can vary widely from person to person; and

Whereas, SCD can cause organ damage and attacks of sudden and severe pain, which often requires a hospital visit; and

Whereas, The only known cure for SCD is bone marrow or stem cell transplant, and is very risky and can have serious side effects, including death; and

Whereas, Early diagnosis and regular medical care can reduce symptoms, prevent complications, and prolong life, thus making awareness of SCD and SCT crucial; and

Whereas, June 19 is recognized by the United Nations as World Sickle Cell Day; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares June 19 of each year Sickle Cell Awareness Day in the City of New York.

EB

LS 10291

03/27/19