Bill Text: NY K00538 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 538 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 12-19, 2019, as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 37-18)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-12 - adopted [K00538 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00538-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 1994

BY: Senator SANDERS

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        June  12-19,  2019, as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness
        Week in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  weeks  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 June  12-19,  2019,  as
Sickle  Cell  Disease  Awareness  Week  in  the  State  of  New York, in
conjunction with the observance of World Sickle Cell Day Wednesday, June
19, 2019; and

  WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a chronic hereditary blood  disorder
that  can  cause severe pain and result in damage to the brain and other
vital organs like the kidneys, liver, spleen and heart; and

  WHEREAS, People who have the  disease  but  do  not  experience  the
symptoms are said to have the sickle cell trait; currently, an estimated
100,000 Americans are living with the disease; and

  WHEREAS,  Frequent pain episodes can result in necrosis of the hips,
knees, ankle and shoulder; there can  be  entrapment  of  blood  in  the
spleen,  severe anemia, acute lung complications (acute chest syndrome),
priapism in males, and difficult pregnancy for women  of  child  bearing
age; and

  WHEREAS,  These  life-threatening complications can develop rapidly,
including infections of  the  blood  (sepsis),  meningitis  and  stroke;
stroke  can  be  either  silent  (no  overt  symptoms) or clinical (with
symptoms) and can affect children as young as 18 months; and

  WHEREAS, Up to 40% of children will have  had  either  a  silent  or
clinical stroke by the age of 18 and this impacts their ability to learn
and/or hold a job; and

  WHEREAS,  Sickle  cell  disease  is  most  common  in  Africans  and
African-Americans,  but  the  disease  can  also  be  found   in   other
demographics,  primarily  in  South  and Central America, the Caribbean,
Mediterranean   countries   and   India;   approximately   1    in    12
African-Americans are diagnosed with the trait; and

  WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans
and  10%  of  these  patients reside in New York State, and 80% of those
patients live in the New York City area; and

  WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the most costly per patient  to  New
York State Medicaid, costing $15,000/year/patient; and

  WHEREAS,  The  only  known cure for sickle cell disease is through a
transplant of bone marrow or stem cells; now, therefore, be it


  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June  12-19,  2019,  as
Sickle  Cell  Disease Awareness Week 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.