Hertz “Naz” Nazaire was an immigrant, and artist and a sickle cell warrior. His journey was recently on display as a traveling exhibit, The Nod to Naz, at the Marriot in Torrance, CA.
Although the disease has taken her through the changes, she’s still here and making a difference. Healthy red blood cells are round, moving through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. If the hemoglobin is abnormal, red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool or a “sickle.” The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. They also get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious health complications including infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. Related Links:
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and Juanita and her mother are spreading a hopeful message – sickle cell disease may be life changing, yet it need not be life draining.
Apart from the science and medicine, there’s another reason Esther Obeng, M.D., Ph.D., has found a home at St. Jude. After arriving, she learned about the research hospital’s history as the first fully integrated children’s hospital in the South and about its continuing focus in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Health officials announced that people suffering from COVID-19 co-morbidities or who are at higher risk of dying from the disease because of other medical conditions will be eligible for vaccination in March.
The historic launch of the BNC will fulfill the business dream and vision of J.C. Watts, Jr., a nationally known entrepreneur and former U.S. Congressman, representing Oklahoma’s Fourth District.
The state will also use the funding to staff up on SCD specialists as well as to train clinicians to recognize and treat SCD complications experienced by patients of the debilitating genetic disorder.
BNC, which officially launches at 6 a.m. on Friday, November 15, 2019 has agreements with Charter Communications, Comcast and DISH TV. The network already has commitments for carriage in major African American hubs like Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Los Angeles.
The 2019 honorees are the Honorable Karen Bass, U.S. Representative (D-CA); the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, U.S. Representative (D-MD); the Honorable Bobby Scott, U.S. Representative (D-VA); the Honorable Bennie Thompson, U.S. Representative (D-MS); Ray Curry, Secretary-Treasurer of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture (UAW); Shani W. Hosten, Vice President Multicultural Leadership, AARP; Dr. Kim Smith-Whitley, Clinical Director of Hematology and Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP); and Crystal Windham, Director, Cadillac Interior Design, General Motors.
Ojiambo raises awareness around sickle cell disease and advocate for better health care opportunities for patients suffering from the disease in Kenya.
Ask Dr. Kevin
It has been over 100 years since sickle cell disease (SCD), a hereditary blood disorder, was first discovered in the United States.
With one in 365 African American babies born with SCD and one in 13 born with the trait, Black people are disproportionately affected by the disease
Acting on a motion by its chairman, Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Board of Supervisors awarded a scroll to pioneering hematologist Dr. Yutaka Niihara, whose research recently led to a breakthrough in the treatment of a painful blood condition that primarily affects African American communities.
Dr. Kevin Williams talks about Sickle Cell Disease in the Black community