June 10, 2022
The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario Celebrates World Sickle Cell Day – June 19
June 10, 2022- Ontario, Canada: June 3rd, 2021 was memorable in the province of Ontario as Bill 255 recognizing June 19 as World Sickle Cell Day (#WSCD) passed in the Ontario Legislative Assembly. This June we are excited to join the Canadian and the global community in celebrating the #WorldSickleCellDay on #June 19 through various campaigns.
For the #WSCD2022 celebration, the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario will utilize two weeks (June 11-June 25) to raise awareness and celebrate the lives of individuals and families living with #sicklecelldisease.
As part of the line-up of #WSCD2022 activities, we are sharing with you- “What #WSCD means to individuals and families affected by #sicklecelldisease, their healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community. We know you do not want to miss any of the shared stories! Read the stories and watch the campaign videos here.
Cities across the province of Ontario will be joining in the celebrations by proclaiming June 19 as #WorldSickleCellDay and/or illuminating their historic landmarks in the color red to commemorate this special day. We ask that you take and share your picture of illuminated landmarks including CN Tower, Niagara Falls, city halls, etc. See the list of cities and their dates of illuminating their landmarks here.
The SCAGO has also partnered with the #CanadianBloodServices to raise more awareness this #June 19 around #blood needs in the #sicklecelldisease community. Coincidentally, National #BloodDonor week is also from June 13-June 19th! Register today with SCAGO’s PFL#SICK327620 on www.Blood.ca to be a #bloodchampion today. Your one #blood donation will save multiple lives. Be a #ProudDonor. You also would not want to miss the heartwarming stories of #BloodDonors and #BloodRecipients on social media! Check out SCAGO’s social media handles below.
On June 25, we will conclude our #WSCD2022 celebrations with a free advocacy training event for the global patient organizations. Register to attend here.
To ensure we share the same messages, we have provided below some “Tweetable Facts You Can Share on #June 19:”
- #DYK #SickleCellDisease is 1 of the most common inherited diseases with > 6000 people with #SCD in #Canada and >3500 in Ontario + that number is growing. #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- Walter C Noel, a Grenadian dentist, 1st person described with #SickleCellDisease > 100yrs ago. #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- A #BloodTest can diagnose carriers of #SCD. #WorldSickleCellDay2022 #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- Persons with #SickleCell #trait carry abnormal hemoglobin #genes but have no symptoms. Get tested; check your risk of passing #SCD to your child. #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- #SickleCellDisease affects O2 carrying red cells. Red blood cells become rigid, #sickle shaped + break easily causing #anemia + #jaundice. #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- Sickled cells block blood vessels and cause severe #pain + #suffering in persons with #SickleCellDisease. Pain may last for days or weeks. #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- Canada is the 1st country and #Ontario the 1st province in the world to officially recognize #June19 as #WSCD #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- 52% percent of people in Canada have said that they, or a family member has needed blood or blood products at some point in their lives. (source: Canada.ca) #WSCD2022 #donateblood #blooddonorweek #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- It takes up to 10 #BloodDonors/month to support a sickle cell patient on long term exchange transfusion therapy. #donateblood #worldblooddonorweek #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
- Most individuals living with #sicklecelldisease have their ancestry from #Malaria endemic regions of the world. #WorldSickleCellDay2022, #NationalSickleCellDay2022, #OntarioSickleCellDay. Learn more: sicklecellanemia.ca
Join us in using World Sickle Cell Day Hashtags: #WSCD2022, #WhatWSCDMeanToMe #SickleCellAwareness; #NationalSickleCellDay; #OntarioSickleCellDay, #SCAGO, #June19
Share the World Sickle Cell Day Icon on your websites and social media pages:
Follow us on social media to keep up with World Sickle Cell Day!
Instagram: @scago.1
Facebook: Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO)
TikTok: SCAGOscd
Youtube: scagovids
Twitter: @SCAGO1
Website: www.sicklecellanemia.ca
We appreciate your help in raising awareness to improve health outcomes for patients with sickle cell disease from across the world. WSCD means something to us, and we know it means something to you as well.
For media inquiries, contact us at: media@sicklecellanemia.ca
#ENDS
