Dr. Lanetta Jordan, associate director and professor for the Master's in Public Health program at Barry University, was invited to speak at the first World Sickle Cell Day - declared so by the United Nations.
On June 19, 2009 the first “Sickle Cell Day” was recognized at the United Nations Office in New York at an event organized in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNAIDS, and the World Bank. Dr. Jordan was part of a round table discussion related to the prevention and spread of the sickle cell gene. She also summarized best practices for disease management and improving transfusion services for patients.
After recognizing sickle cell disease as a public health problem, the General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted resolution A/63/237 in December of 2008 to designate June 19 of each year as “Sickle Cell Day” to increase awareness of this problem at the national and international level.
Collaboration among the Sickle Cell Disease International Organization (SCDIO), the delegation of the Congo and 24 Member States made the recognition possible.
Participants at the event included the UN General Assembly, UN Economic and Social Council, UN Security Council, heads of states and government, royal highnesses, regional institutions such as the African Union and European Union and first ladies.
Guests enjoyed many events including an exhibition of associations and international organizations at the United Nations building, an art exhibition on sickle cell disease, and a festival organized by the Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Patients Network (SCTPN) in areas around the United Nations.