RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MAJORITY WHIP NORMAN, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, COUNCILMEMBERS PINEDA-ISAAC, DIAZ, AND MERANTE:
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A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF YONKERS COMMEMORATING SEPTEMBER 2025 AS NATIONAL SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF YONKERS
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Whereas, Expressing support for the designation of September 2025, as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month in order to increase public awareness in the City of Yonkers about sickle cell disease and the continued need for empirical research, early detection screenings, novel effective treatments leading to a cure, and preventative care programs with respect to complications from sickle cell anemia and conditions relating to sickle cell disease; and
Whereas, sickle cell disease referred to in this Resolution as "SCD" is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders, a genetic condition present at birth, and a major health problem in the United States and worldwide, is defined a gene mutation that causes a single misspelling in the DNA instructions for hemoglobin, a protein that aids in carrying oxygen in the blood, and results in chronic complications, including anemia, stroke, infections, organ failure, tissue damage, and intense periods of pain referred to as vaso-occulsive crises; and
Whereas, SCT occurs when an individual inherits 1 copy of the sickle cell gene from 1 parent, and, when both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, there is a 25 percent chance that any of their children will have SCD. There are an estimated 3 million individuals with Sickle Cell Trait in the United States, with many unaware of their status; and
Whereas, SCD affects millions of individuals throughout the world, especially vulnerable are individuals of genetic descent from sub-Saharan regions of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Central America, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Greece, and Italy of which the Yonkers Community is home to many of these at risk ...
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