Washington, DC - Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn), along with the Brooklyn Postmaster Joseph Lubrano and Interfaith Medical Center, unveiled the new Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Stamp in hopes of  raising awareness, early testing, and the need for treatment of this terrible disease.  The ceremony took place at Interfaith, which has a dedicated Sickle Cell Program that has served the central Brooklyn Community for 30 years.

"We were very  honored to host the unveiling of the sickle cell stamp,"  Miren Blackwood,  the Sickle Cell Program Coordinator Interfaith Medical Center.  "For more than 30 years Interfaith Medical has been committed to the treatment of sickle cell disease for this community and will continue to heighten the awareness and proving the highest quality of care."
            
Interfaith's comprehensive Sickle Cell Center has a dedicated staff, which is devoted to providing sickle cell patients with the best care and to finding ways to improve the patient’s well being. In addition, the Program is unique in that it follows patients from birth to adulthood in the same facility with the help of the same support staff.  The continuity of care greatly reduces the trauma of transition from pediatric services into adult care.

"Our mission at Interfaith Medical Center is provide high quality patient care in direct response to the needs of the people we serve," said Edward J. Glicksman, Interfaith's CEO.  "Our Sickle Cell Program epitomizes that commitment. We are very proud of our Sickle Cell Program."

"Given the excellent care that Interfaith provides for sickle cell patients, it was only proper that the unveiling be held here," added Towns. 

Sickle Cell Disease, which particularly hits the African-American community, is an inherited blood disorder that causes normally round blood cells to take on a sickle shape. These sickle-shaped cells clog the bloodstream, creating obstructions that result in severe medical complications.  Researchers estimate that one in 300 African-American newborns have the disease.

"Every little bit helps," said Towns.  "In the African-American community, sickle cell is among those diseases at the top of the list that people are concerned about.  However, for most of society, sickle cell is something that they are not likely familiar with.   This stamp can help us overcome this barrier which can lead to more dollars for research and treatment of the disease."

The most feared complication for children with the disease is a stroke, which may affect infants as young as 18 months of age. Some patients remain without symptoms for years, while others may not survive infancy or early childhood.  Adults with sickle cell disease experience severe physical problems, such as acute lung complications, and chronic problems like pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension and kidney failure.

However, Towns says he is hoping efforts like this stamp and newly enacted legislation will begin to make a difference.  Earlier this year, the Sickle Cell Treatment Act, which Congressman Towns supported, was signed into law.  The bill will increase health care access for patients by providing federal matching funds for sickle cell disease-related services under Medicaid and by offering states a federal 50-50 funding match for non-medical expenses such as genetic counseling, community outreach and education. Additionally, the bill creates 40 sickle cell disease treatment centers across the country and establishes a National Sickle Cell Disease Research Headquarters through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"We need to do everything we can to ensure that there are more dedicated treatment centers like the one here at Interfaith so children and adults can live long and productive lives," said Towns.  "The legislation and this new stamp is a great start.  We just need to keep the momentum going."

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