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WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 22, 2008, adopted a resolution, drafted by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to recognize sickle cell disease as a serious world health problem on June 19th of each year - starting in 2009 - at the national and international levels; and,
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WHEREAS, the UN has declared June 19th World Sickle Cell Awareness Day; and,
WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among those whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere (South America, the Caribbean, and Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy; and,
WHEREAS, it is recognized that sickle cell disease is one of the world's widespread genetic diseases, that it has severe physical, psychological and social consequences for those affected and their families, and,
WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is the only genetic disease that is both rare and neglected; affecting approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States and millions worldwide, and,
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to raise public awareness about sickle cell disease and to eliminate health disparities and stigma associated with the disease; and,
WHEREAS, members of our community are organizing a "Shine the Light on Sickle Cell Disease" event to celebrate World Sickle Cell Awareness Day; and,
WHEREAS, the Children's Sickle Cell Foundation, Inc. as a local community-based organization is participating as a host organization to "Shine the Light on Sickle Cell Disease", and in so doing to help increase awareness, build support networks, raise critical resources and strengthen the collective resolve to advocate for increased access to community-based sickle cell services and support for research for a universal cure for sickle cell disease;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That Council of the City of Pittsburgh r...
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