| Date | 22 December 2008 |
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Agenda item 155
Recognition of sickle-cell anaemia as a public health priority
Draft resolution (A/63/L.63)
The President
I give the floor to the representative of the Congo, who will introduce draft resolution A/63/L.63.
Mr. Balé (Congo)
It is my honour to introduce draft resolution A/63/L.63, entitled "Recognition of sickle-cell anaemia as a public health problem".
It is true that the genetic blood disease known as sickle-cell anaemia, although it is present on all continents, generally speaking does not cause much reaction; hence the lack of interest it gives rise to. Unless one is affected oneself or if one's loved one is affected, or unless one is working in the field of medicine, this hereditary disease is little known to the public at large. However, according to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects almost 100 million people worldwide, including all forms of the disease. Unless handled robustly in its early stages, it can cause the death of more than 50 per cent of people affected in its severest form, referred to in medical jargon as homozygocity or the SS disease. Moreover, the prevalence of malaria and the risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS following a blood transfusion constitute factors for increased mortality rates among carriers of this disease. To that situation are added the obscurantist beliefs to be found in many regions that are highly infected, all of which fosters ignorance of the disease and increases these grim statistics.
It is a disquieting picture, but it has not been enough to remove sickle-cell anaemia from its orphan medical ghetto: unlike AIDS or malaria, it has to date not really drawn the attention of decision makers.
Today, with the adoption of the draft resolution entitled "Recognition of sickle-cell anaemia as a public health problem", we shall mark the beginning of an important stage in ending the long isolation of this disease. But we shall be doing more than that: it is now the hope of more than 100 million carriers of the disease that bolder action in the future will help resolutely and effectively to tackle this disease in order to alleviate their suffering and increase their life expectancy. That is why we welcome the fact that, on 19 June every year, activities to raise public awareness about sickle-cell anaemia will be made possible at the national and international levels.
We have no doubt that the adoption of this draft resolution will ensure support from both Member States and partners and thus will reflect their commitment to assisting efforts to combat sickle-cell anaemia, including in the context of strengthening public health through various development programmes.
Obviously, all relevant current and future activities are aimed at eliminating this disease as a public health problem. Therefore, basic and applied research into this disease should be a natural compliment to this awareness-raising campaign and our struggle.
I am confident that the General Assembly will send a message of hope to the hundreds of millions of people suffering from sickle-cell anaemia throughout the world by adopting this draft resolution by consensus.
Finally, I should like to sincerely thank all delegations that have taken an active part in the consultations leading to the adoption of this text. I am also grateful to the sponsor countries.
The President
The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/63/L.63, entitled "Recognition of sickle-cell anaemia as a public health problem". I should like to announce that, since the introduction of the draft resolution, the following countries have become sponsors: Cuba, Egypt and Slovenia.
May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/63/L.63?
The President
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 155?
