NATIONAL SICKLE AWARENESS MONTH AND WEAR RED DAY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Johnson
(410) 219-3947 (Office)
(410) 251-5379 (Cell)
WICOMICO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES
NATIONAL SICKLE AWARENESS MONTH AND WEAR RED DAY
“HELP INCREASE AWARENESS SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND SICKLE CELL TRAIT”
(September 14, 2022 Salisbury, MD) September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members throughout Wicomico County will unite on Friday, September 23rd to participate in “Wear Red Day”.
The “Wear Red Day” campaign aims to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Awareness by teaching others how to connect, discuss and provide resources for those who are living with; caring for and could give birth to a child with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait. Join your friends, co-workers, and surrounding community members on September 23rd by wearing red. Every September, people living with sickle cell disease, their caregivers, advocates, healthcare providers, and others come together to bring awareness to the disease and dispel the myths and stigmas surrounding it. The month also brings attention to the ongoing need for research, better care practices, new treatments, and an eventual cure.
Facts about sickle cell disease: Most common inherited blood disorder in U.S. Affects approximately 100,000 Americans; 1 out of every 365 Black or African American babies are born with sickle cell disease; 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American babies are born with sickle cell disease. About 1 in 13 Black or African American babies are born with sickle cell trait. Bringing awareness can reduce:
- Systemic inequities in our healthcare system.
- Patients getting help at the last moment.
- Stigma with chronic pain and opioids
Increase the awareness of issues surrounding this disease such as:
- Few specialty clinics are available for SCD treatments,
- Information about detecting this disease and about this disease is not always widely shared.
- Pain management can be a challenge due to the intermittent nature of sickle cell crises and persistent racial disparities in pain assessment and treatment.
There is no universally effective cure; bone marrow and stem cell transplants have allowed some people to overcome SCD, but low donor availability and treatment-related complications render these procedures unviable for many patients.
Read President Biden’s Sickle Cell Awareness Month Proclamation https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/08/31/a-proclamation-on-national-sickle-cell-awareness-month-2022/
Other Resources include the following:
- Understanding Sickle Cell Disease – Learn more about Sickle Cell Disease, including symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle tips. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sickle-cell-disease
- Cure Sickle Cell Initiative – See how NHLBI-led research is paving the way to a cure for Sickle Cell Disease. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/science/cure-sickle-cell-initiative
- Blood Health Network – Find additional resources from Blood Health Network partners. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/blood/blood-health-network
For more info, visit the Wicomico County Health Department’s website at www.wicomicohealth.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram (WicomicoHealth) or Twitter (@WicomicoHealth).
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