Proclaim September 2024 to be National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Whereas, Sickle cell disease is a global health problem affecting over 100,000 Americans, millions globally, including nearly two hundred newborns in Oregon yearly; and shortens the life span of its victims while afflicting pain and damages to vital organs; and
Whereas, Sickle cell disease is inherited and is most common in people with an ancestry of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and Central America, Saudi Arabia, India, Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy; and
Whereas, Sickle cell trait is also an inherited condition in which one sickle cell gene and one normal gene is received at the time of conception and may be passed on to infants, and in certain situations may cause complications of sickle cell disease such as painful episodes; and
Whereas, there are 2.5 million people in America with Sickle cell trait; 1 in approximately 500 with this painful disease; and it is imperative to inform and educate the general public that while there is no known common cure, the disease is treatable; and
Whereas, Sickle cell disease poses great psychological impacts; including in the domains of general public perceptions and attitudes, education, employment, health care access, emotional responses, and effective awareness and sensitivity can lighten the impact this disease imposes.
Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim September 2024, to be
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
in Portland and encourage all residents to join in this observance.