Assembly Resolution No. 1319

BY: M. of A. Rules (Perry)

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 7, 2018, as Sickle Cell Healthcare Priority Day
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days 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 Thursday, June 7, 2018,
as Sickle Cell Healthcare Priority Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, The Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus will
hold a Sickle Cell forum on this day at the New York State Capitol, in
Albany, New York, to bring public awareness as well as to elevate this
disease to a healthcare priority with the assistance of both
not-for-profits and advocates across the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, This vital forum is the first of its kind to come together
to create awareness and bring new accessible medications, with the hope
of finding a cure for Sickle Cell disease (SCD); and

WHEREAS, The first description of SCD was by James B. Herrick, a
physician from Chicago, who noted in his medical literature in 1910,
that a patient of his from the West Indies had an anemia characterized
by unusual red cells that were "sickle shaped"; and

WHEREAS, SCD is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from
a person's parents; the most common type is known as sickle-cell anaemia
(SCA) which results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein
haemoglobin found in red blood cells and leads to a rigid, sickle-like
shape under certain circumstances; and

WHEREAS, Problems in SCD typically begin around 5 to 6 months of
age; a number of health problems may develop, such as attacks of pain
(sickle-cell crisis), anemia, swelling in the hands and feet, bacterial
infections, and stroke; and

WHEREAS, 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 such as South
America, the Caribbean, and Central America; Saudi Arabia; India; and
Mediterranean countries including Turkey, Greece, and Italy; and

WHEREAS, The exact number of people living with SCD in the United
States is unknown; SCD occurs in approximately 1 out of every 16,300
Hispanic-American births; furthermore, approximately 1 in 13 Black or
African-American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT); and

WHEREAS, Long term pain may develop as people get older and the
average life expectancy in the developed world is 40 to 60 years; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious disease, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 7, 2018, as
Sickle Cell Healthcare Priority Day 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.