Assembly Resolution No. 960
BY: M. of A. Rules (Hyndman)
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 15-19, 2020, as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness
Week in the State of New York
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 15-19, 2020, as
Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of World Sickle Cell Day on June 19,
2020; and
WHEREAS, For 40 years, the Sickle Cell Society has strived to
support and represent people affected by sickle cell disorder to improve
their overall quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a chronic hereditary blood disorder
that can cause severe pain and result in damage to the brain and other
vital organs like the kidneys, liver, spleen and heart; and
WHEREAS, People who have the disease but do not experience the
symptoms are said to have the sickle cell trait; currently, an estimated
100,000 Americans are living with the disease; and
WHEREAS, Frequent pain caused by sickle cell episodes can result in
necrosis of the hips, knees, ankle and shoulder; there can be entrapment
of blood in the spleen, severe anemia, acute lung complications (acute
chest syndrome), priapism in males, and difficult pregnancy for women of
child bearing age; and
WHEREAS, These life-threatening complications can develop rapidly,
including infections of the blood (sepsis), meningitis and stroke;
stroke can be either silent (no overt symptoms) or clinical (with
symptoms) and can affect children as young as 18 months; and
WHEREAS, Up to 40% of children will have had either a silent or
clinical stroke by the age of 18 and this impacts their ability to learn
and/or hold a job; and
WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is most common in Africans and African
Americans, but the disease can also be found in other demographics,
primarily in South and Central America, the Caribbean, Mediterranean
countries and India; approximately 1 in 12 African Americans are
diagnosed with the trait; and
WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans
and 10% of these patients reside in New York State, and 80% of those
patients live in the New York City area; and
WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the costliest per patient to New
York State Medicaid, costing $15,000/year/patient; and
WHEREAS, The only known cure for sickle cell disease is through a
transplant of bone marrow or stem cells; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 15-19, 2020, as
Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York and the Sickle Cell Society.
