Advocacy, Awareness and Health Promotion The mission of the Howard University Center for Sickle
not available due to COVID-19) is a free program, through
Cell Disease (HUCSCD) is to provide state of the art clinical
which anyone can get tested and find out their sickle cell
services, community outreach, screening/testing, genetic
status. Screenings are also offered through health fairs
counseling, research and education.
organized in the community. People who participate in this program also receive educational materials and are
HUCSCD was founded in 1972 by the late Roland B. Scott,
informed about SCT
M.D. The Center was one of the first Centers of Excellence
and its consequences.
funded by the National Institutes of Health. As such, it is
The Center also offers
a major provider of medical care to underserved patient
genetic counseling,
communities in the region. Howard University medical
which provides more in-
professionals currently care for more than 350 adults and
depth information about
children with the disease, making it the single largest care
SCT and SCD, as well as
provider for adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) locally.
reproductive risks and options.
SCD is an inherited condition that affects more than 100,000 individuals
The HUCSCD hosts two large-scale annual events, one
in the United States,
to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day on June 19, and
predominantly
the other to recognize Sickle Cell Awareness month in
Africans and
September – this year’s event was the Cure Sickle Cell
African-Americans.
Now Move-On Event. During World Sickle Cell Day, the
Approximately 1 in
Center invites renowned speakers to present their research
12 African-Americans
or their experience working with sickle cell patients. This
have sickle cell trait
year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the September
(SCT), many of whom don’t know they are carriers of the
event was converted to a virtual platform, and throughout
gene mutation; the numbers are as high as 1 in 4 people
the month, there were daily facts posted on social media
with SCT in some West African countries. When both
about SCD and SCT, fitness activities such as yoga, boot-
parents are carriers there is a 25% chance that their child
camp, boxing and Zumba, as well as one-hour DJ sessions
will be born with SCD. There is a great need to reach
to accompany participants while walking, running or doing
out to our students and our community and provide
their everyday chores.
information about SCD and SCT. In a continuous effort to improve the everyday lives of In terms of spreading awareness and education about SCD,
patients with SCD, the HUCSCD partnered with the
the Center has implemented different strategies through
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through
its stated mission. The SCT screening program (currently
the 1867 Health Innovations project.
PAGE 10 | Bison Beat Monthly Newsletter OCTOBER 2020
