Community Outreach & Education
How is the Center Involved in Community Outreach?
Screening in the community to identify people who are carriers of the sickle gene is an important activity of the Center. Teams are available at no cost to attend health fairs and other similar public activities where information is made available and where persons who so desire can be tested for the presence of the sickle gene. This activity not only promotes awareness of issues in sickle cell disease, but allows people to know whether they might someday pass on the sickle gene to a future generation, allowing them to make informed decisions about having children.
The Center and Education
It is essential for children in school, especially African-American children, since the disease is most common in that ethnic group, to learn about sickle cell disease, what it is, what it means to be an inherited disease and what is being done about it. Center personnel are prepared to visit schools to make age-appropriate educational presentations. Educational programs are available for adult groups also.
Additionally, the Center is committed to training DC area clinicians to the specific needs and care protocols of people living with sickle cell disease. Howard University is committed to training the next generation of African American physicians, as well as all DC area physicians, to improve the quality of care for this patient population in the DC area. Howard University aims to be a Center of Excellence and model of care for sickle cell disease and is committed to doing so via continuing medical education and other clinician level training.
Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease is partnering with Washington DC’s Center for Rationale Prescribing to provide this education for free to DC area clinicians. The Center will include information on the courses once available in Fall 2023.
Cure Sickle Cell NOW Event 2024
The Center for Sickle Cell Disease is excited to bring our CURE SICKLE CELL NOW 5K Walk/Run Event back to Howard this summer.
Join us in front of Howard University Hospital at the Plaza for fun and activities. We’ll have a 5K Fun Walk/Run on the Howard University campus. Not able to walk? Then stay at HUH Plaza and move as you can to music and Zumba instruction.
Registration is FREE. If you register by August 16th, 2024, you’re guaranteed a t-shirt when you arrive onsite. We’ll have plenty of other free giveaways and raffle prizes.
Get connected to our social media, because we will post challenges that you can participate in throughout September as we raise awareness. Tag us so we can see you in action.
