New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Department Highlights Importance of Early Screening, Donating Blood and Raising Awareness

Sickle Cell Disease Predominantly Affects Black Community

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 8, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health recognized National Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September by raising awareness about the disease and emphasizing the importance of early screening and donating blood.

"Sickle cell disease is a serious condition that continues to disproportionately impact the Black community, bringing physical, emotional, and financial challenges for individuals and their loved ones," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "The Department of Health is committed to expanding awareness, strengthening newborn screening, advancing equitable access to quality care, and fostering a supportive network for everyone living with sickle cell disease."

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body within the red blood cells. Genetic variants result in the production of abnormal hemoglobin that causes the red blood cells to turn sickle-shaped and clump together. These sickle-shaped cells cause blockages in blood flow, which can lead to anemia, pain, infections and other severe complications. Treatments are available, with two considered curative – stem cell transplantation and gene therapy – including the first FDA-approved gene therapy using newly emerging clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) technology.

The condition affects more than 100,000 people in the U.S. and 20 million people worldwide. In the U.S., most people who have sickle cell disease are Black, but it also occurs more frequently in individuals of Hispanic, Southern European, Middle Eastern or Asian Indian descent.

The New York State Newborn Screening Program provides screening for sickle cell disease and 50 other, mostly genetic diseases for all babies born in New York State. The goal is to help babies with these conditions live long and healthy lives. New York was the first state in the U.S. to implement newborn screening for sickle cell disease in 1975.

Newborn screening involves a series of laboratory tests performed to identify babies at high risk for treatable disorders. Without timely medical intervention, these conditions can cause significant morbidity in newborns and even death. Early diagnosis and treatment for these disorders leads to better health outcomes.

The Department urges New Yorkers to learn about blood donation because people with sickle cell disease benefit from blood transfusions.

Information about the New York State Newborn Screening Program can be found here.

Information about living with sickle cell disease can be found here.

Locations for New Yorkers to donate blood can be found here.