National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

(Black PR Wire) September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is proud to join federal and non-federal partners in raising awareness about this debilitating disease affecting approximately 100,000 people in the U.S.

Led by the NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), this year’s theme, Advancing Sickle Cell Disease Research, aims to bring greater visibility to blood safety, as well as to the diagnosis, treatment, and management, of blood diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 365 Black or African American births.
• Sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic American births.
• About 1 in 13 Black or African American babies is born with sickle cell trait.

To help drive efforts, OMH encourages public and private organizations from across the country to join the NHLBI Blood Health Network, to work together to increase awareness and disseminate information about blood diseases, disorders, and safety.

This month, check out NHLBI’s Today’s Faced of Sickle Cell Disease featuring real stories of people living with sickle cell disease and visit the OMH Sickle Cell Disease Initiative website for to access materials, videos, and information regarding the latest advances, and health resources.