Res 0980-2019

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