Ohio Sickle Cell and Health Association

Cleveland Caring for the Caregiver Expo (Mayfield Heights, OH)
2026-11-21 09:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit) | The Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights,, OH, 44124, United States
Cleveland Caring for the Caregiver Expo is a “Free” One-Day Event for All Caregivers and First Responders.

Saturday, November 21, 2026, g for the Caregiver Expo

“The 3rd Annual Cleveland Caring for the Caregiver Expo” is a “Free” One-Day Event to say thank you and provide pampering, health and fitness, lunch-and-learn, resources, information, an open mic, education, and employment opportunities for Caregivers and First Responders! The Inaugural Cleveland Caring for the Caregiver Expo will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at The Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The official opening Program begins promptly at 9 a.m.

All Caregivers must register and sign in at the door. www.caringforthecaregiverexpo.com

World Sickle Cell Day - June 19th
2027-01-01 - 2027-06-19 | OH
WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY

World Sickle Cell Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease and its cure. It was first celebrated on June 19, 2009.
The United Nations General Assembly (63rd session) has declared June 19 to be celebrated annually as World Sickle Cell Day to raise awareness about this curable condition and promote global control of the disease. The World Health Organization has initiated a range of promotional activities on a global scale to address this hemoglobin dysfunction issue.

According to the statistics, it has been noted that more than 1000 babies are born every day, having Sickle Cell Disease in Africa and dying up to five years of age. More than 90,000 to 100,000 people in the United States are affected by this disease. However, people in other countries are also affected, such as those in India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, Southern Italy, and Greece. It is a significant public health issue worldwide, which must be taken under control to save our healthy nation’s future.
This genetic health problem has affected people globally, due to the risk of premature child death. It requires effective control through a strategy of early detection, public awareness, and effective partner collaboration among countries.
WHAT IS SICKLE CELL DISEASE
It is an inheritable, genetic, and fatal disease causing red blood cell disorders, which has been classified as sickle cell anemia and may lead to death. It is the most common public health issue in many African and Asian countries worldwide.
Sickle cell anemia refers to a condition where a person suffers from anemia due to abnormally shaped red blood cells that become stuck in their small blood vessels, causing blockages in the blood flow. Whole body organs cannot get proper oxygen, which leads to common health problems like severe pain, organ damage or failure, severe infections, stroke, headache, liver problems, heart problems, and so on.
WHY IS WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY CELEBRATED
World Sickle Cell Day is celebrated every year on June 19th worldwide to raise public awareness about this fatal disease and to achieve effective control over the situation. It is celebrated annually by the active participation of various government organizations, health funding agencies, non-government organizations, NGOs, and other health organizations. It has become necessary to run a variety of campaigns to raise awareness among the general public on a global basis, as well as encourage them to actively participate in large numbers in the celebration, to get much closer to the realities of this genetic disease.
It is celebrated to develop courage among the public and support them through educational and dramatic activities, aiming to remove social stigma and myths about sickle cell anemia. Widespread health programs need to be implemented for the screening of patients and early diagnosis of this disease. New parents are focused on becoming aware of immunizations and their comprehensive care packages.
Global Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers have been actively involved online in promoting awareness and providing up-to-date, accurate information about sickle cell anemia, early diagnosis, and treatment. The World Health Organization has also made some commitments to promoting awareness of this disease, such as:

Increasing effective awareness of sickle cell anemia as a significant health issue worldwide.
People living in every community all around the world should be aware of it.
All the myths and stigmas about sickle cell disease are removed.
All member countries are requested to establish various health programs to facilitate access to treatment for this disease on the national and regional levels.
Promoting the availability of satisfactory access to technical support and medical services for all people suffering from this disease.
All the medical professionals are given a good training facility for better prevention, research work, and accurate implementation of the resources, minimizing disease complications.

SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES OF CELEBRATING THE WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY EVENT ANNUALLY ARE MENTIONED BELOW:

To distribute the real information about sickle cell anemia much closer to the general public worldwide.
By letting them know about their sickle cell status through early diagnosis, we can offer a significant opportunity to all those suffering from this disease.
Provide the opportunity to get in contact with the service providers for their confirmatory tests.
To get support from health organizations for funding, screening reagents, microscopes, etc.
To get together all the medical professionals, including lab assistants, scientists, nurses, counselors, etc.
To get online support through various social media websites, easily and immediately distribute messages among youths and other age groups.
To implement new health strategies to eradicate this disease from the world entirely.
To motivate private, government, and other health organizations to active participation in the complete eradication of this disease.

HOW WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY IS CELEBRATED
World Sickle Cell Day is celebrated on June 19 every year by organizing a variety of awareness campaigns worldwide. Some of the awareness activities are motivating people for blood drives in the hospital or community, bone marrow registration drives, releasing balloons and butterflies, discussion campaigns, general conversation programs among the common public, commemorative activities, awareness surveys of people, sharing of related stories through a newspaper or online media, educational programs in the community, presentations, sports activities, organizing rallies, meetings, a press conference for awareness, fundraising for comprehensive treatment, blood awareness, donating tissues and cord blood, organizing comedy activities, quiz competitions, and other related activities in the schools, colleges, and universities.
Other activities include related message writing on hand and message distribution, picture drawing, creating hopeful messages, poster distribution, lucky draw contest, health talks, massage posting on a social media website, organizing free checkup camps for testing of the sickle cell anemia, people’s response broadcasting through the radio and TV channels, marathon and many more.
WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY THEMES

2026 “Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Disease”
2025 “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy”
2024 “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Care Globally”
2019 – 2023 “Shine the Light on Sickle Cell Disease”
2018 “Stepping Up”, “SCD: Walk For Hope.”
2017 “Break the Sickle Cycle”.
2016 “Exhibit Courage and Address Ineffective Areas of Support”
2015 “For Sickle Cell to stop being ignored, you must Stop Your Silence and Share Your Truth.”
2014 “Break the Silence on Sickle Cell Disorder”
2013 “Know Your Sickle Cell Status”
2012 “Keeping Hope Alive”
2011 “Educate and Unite”
2010 “Awareness, Education and Hope”
2009 “The Burden of Sickle Cell Disease – A Public Health Approach”
2008 “Recognition of Sickle Cell Anemia as a Public Health Problem”

Rare Disease Day -February 28th
2027-01-01 - 2027-02-28 | OH
Rare Disease Day is the globally coordinated movement on rare diseases, working towards equity in social opportunity, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for people living with a rare disease.
Since its creation in 2008, Rare Disease Day has played a critical part in building an international rare disease community that is multi-disease, global, and diverse– but united in purpose.
Rare Disease Day is observed every year on 28 February (or 29 in leap years)—the rarest day of the year.
Rare Disease Day was set up and is coordinated by EURORDIS and 65+ national alliance patient organization partners. Rare Disease Day provides an energy and focal point that enables rare disease advocacy work to progress on the local, national and international levels.
