The New York State Department of Health has marked National Sickle Cell Awareness Month this September by highlighting the impact of sickle cell disease and promoting early screening and blood donation.
“Sickle cell disease is a serious condition that continues to disproportionately impact the Black community, bringing physical, emotional, and financial challenges for individuals and their loved ones,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “The Department of Health is committed to expanding awareness, strengthening newborn screening, advancing equitable access to quality care, and fostering a supportive network for everyone living with sickle cell disease.”
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder affecting hemoglobin in red blood cells. The presence of abnormal hemoglobin leads red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, which can block blood flow. This may result in anemia, pain episodes, infections, and other complications. While treatments exist for managing symptoms, two approaches—stem cell transplantation and gene therapy—are considered curative options. Recently approved therapies include those using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology.
More than 100,000 people in the United States are affected by sickle cell disease. Globally, around 20 million people live with the condition. In the U.S., it predominantly affects Black individuals but is also found among people of Hispanic, Southern European, Middle Eastern or Asian Indian backgrounds.
New York’s Newborn Screening Program tests all babies born in the state for sickle cell disease along with 50 other primarily genetic conditions. The program aims to identify these disorders early so children can receive timely treatment and have better health outcomes. Established in 1975, New York was the first state to implement newborn screening for sickle cell disease.
Newborn screening consists of laboratory tests designed to detect high-risk infants who could benefit from early medical intervention. Without such interventions, some disorders may cause significant illness or even death in newborns.
The department encourages residents to learn about blood donation because transfusions play a vital role in treating individuals with sickle cell disease.
Further details about the New York State Newborn Screening Program are available at https://www.wadsworth.org/programs/newborn/screening.
Information on living with sickle cell disease can be accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/index.html.
To find locations where New Yorkers can donate blood visit https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/blood/blood_donation/.
