Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to raise awareness about sickle cell disease. It is a disease of the blood that causes chronic anemia, periodic episodes of pain and other health-related complications.
Approximately 10,000 Canadian children are seriously ill from this hereditary disease. At this time, there is no cure for sickle cell disease, but adequate medical care can prevent its effects.
On April 12, as I do every year, I will be attending the fundraising gala for the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Quebec. This year's theme is “Courage and Perseverance”.
I wish to congratulate the association's members and its president, Wilson Sanon, for their hard work in providing assistance to people who have the disease and their loved ones, and for the excellent work they do in raising awareness and educating high-risk populations.
I salute the entire medical community, including doctors, researchers, nurses and other caregivers who support patients and their loved ones. I also salute the sponsors and Héma-Québec for holding blood drives. Long live the association.