Recognizes that sickle-cell anaemia is a public health problem; underlines the need to raise public awareness about sickle-cell anaemia and to eliminate harmful prejudices associated with the disease; urges Member States and the organizations of the UN system to raise awareness of sickle-cell anaemia on 19 June each year at the national and international levels; encourages Member States, as well as UN agencies, funds and programmes, international institutions and development partners, to support health systems and primary health-care delivery, including efforts to improve the management of sickle-cell anaemia; invites Member States, international organizations and civil society to support the efforts being made to combat sickle-cell anaemia, including as part of health-system strengthening efforts, in the various development programmes, and to encourage basic and applied research on the disease; and urges the Member States in which sickle-cell anaemia is a public health problem to establish national programmes and specialized centres for the treatment of sickle-cell anaemia and to facilitate access to treatment.

Adopted without vote, 73rd plenary meeting

2 p.

Issued in GAOR, 63rd sess., Suppl. no. 49.