WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that changes round red blood cells into hard, crescent shapes, affects nearly 100,000 people in the United States; and
WHEREAS, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, celebrated in September, aims to bring awareness to the impacts of the disease and convene individuals and organizations in awareness events and other efforts to dispel myths about the disease, educate the public, and garner funding for sickle cell research and treatment efforts; and
WHEREAS, Worldwide, about 80% of the world's sickle cell disease cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for roughly 5 million out of the 7.7 million people globally affected by sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, nearly 3,000 adults live with sickle cell disease, and African American residents are particularly vulnerable. Approximately 1 in every 365 Black or African American individuals are living with the condition. In the United States, approximately 100,000 people live with sickle cell disease, and over 90% are African American; and
WHEREAS, South Asians, Middle Eastern, Hispanic or Latino, and Mediterranean populations are also more likely to be affected by sickle cell disease. Across the globe, millions of people of these descents have sickle cell disease or carry the trait, with India alone accounting for over 1 million cases. An estimated 60,000 - 90,000 infants in Saudi Arabia are born with sickle cell disease every year, and historical pockets also exist across parts of Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Of Hispanic and Latino populations, an estimated 3-9% have sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS, Impacts of sickle cell disease are very serious, and include chronic pain, stroke, organ damage, chronic anemia, infections, painful swelling of hands and feet, fatigue, and more; and
WHEREAS, Treatment for sickle cell disease has improved dramatically, shifting from treatments that merely managed painful symptoms to breakthrough gene-editing therapies that now offer a functional cure; and
WHEREAS, These life-changing treatments are available in part due to the tireless work of hematologists like Dr. Roy Neil Gay, who passed away after building a successful career in Philadelphia treating patients with a variety of medical conditions including sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Roy Neil Gay earned his Doctor of Medicine at the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo in 1976, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Presbyterian Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gay made a difference in the life of every patient he served. His patients commended his attentiveness, patience, and good bedside manner, with patient reviews describing him as one of the best doctors in his field and a consistent patient advocate; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gay’s impact in treating sickle cell disease will continue to foster positive patient outcomes for generations to come. However, work still remains to be done - current treatment options often carry high costs, require harsh chemotherapy, and are not yet accessible globally, making the need for safer, cheaper, and more universally accessible therapies that much more needed; and
WHEREAS, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month draws attention to this challenge and encourages widespread support for research while uplifting communities living with and affected by sickle cell disease; now, therefore, be it;
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizing September as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia, celebrating the incredible resilience of people living with sickle cell disease, and honoring the life of Dr. Roy Neil Gay and his incredible contributions to the treatment of sickle cell disease.
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