Just got an email advocating for increased access to healthcare for #SickleCellWarriors in the next #Covid19 federal #Stimulusbill

A #tweetorial on why thats a great idea

#PHOdocs @MedTweetorials #HealthForAll #healthdisparities #healthequity #Shematology @ASH_hematology

Dedicated to a gentleman I met this week with SCD and Covid who said, "It's literally one thing after another with this disease." He meant SCD, but could've also meant COVID

As well as all the other #sickleadvocates in the #twitterverse @Memej99 @eatyourselfcool and more

Sickle cell dz is an inherited blood disorder that along other symptoms causes pain, breathing problems, and immunocompromise

More @conquerSCD and @sicklecell101

We'll start easy with the connections

#Covid_19 is a virus that affects people with breathing problems and immunocompromise, like #sicklecell

Here's a cool (secure) database so we can all learn more about the overlap: http://www.covidsicklecell.org 

#SocialDistancing protects all of us, but particularly those who are more likely to get very sick from #coronavirus, like those with SCD.

Cute poster I saw on @mysicklefamily from the #SCDAA

But #SocialDistancingisaPrivilege!

Up to 66% of our children with #SickleCell may face #foodinsecurity, inadequate housing or other other unmet needs!

And these are pre-economic crisis numbers

#tweetiatrician #sdoh #socialdeterminantsofhealth
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pbc.28006

Additionally, the majority of #sicklecellwarriors in the US are African-Americans or other minorities. As @ckelly60637 and @sagarm91, et al have shown #healthdisparities persist in times of covid https://twitter.com/ckelly60637/status/1250803701989740545

This pandemic certainly didn't fix our history of inadequate access to healthcare for African Americans https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1247662959880519681

And the pandemic hasnt fixed #bias, #stigma, & the way those with SCD are treated

If anything, fear & anxiety might exacerbate challenging interactions as described ~13:30 (but you should listen to the whole thing!)

@drzsicklecell @sbediako1 @kevinsimon https://pca.st/episode/57154571-521b-43bc-9b36-b9776fdb046c

Whether #sicklecellwarriors are staying away from the hospital to avoid catching #covid or to avoid catching shade, they deserve expanded access to #preventivecare and outpatient services from #Sicklecelldocs

@DrHeeney @PTMcGann @sicklecelldoc @JeanLRaphael

Representatives @RepDannyDavis, @GKButterfield, @RepBarbaraLee, & @RepTerriSewell support increased care for #SickleCell in the next #COVID19 stimulus

Im hopeful @DrNealDunnFL2, @congbillposey, @RepAlLawsonJr, @RepDarrenSoto @RepValDemings, @RepHastingsFL & colleagues will too

If you've stuck with me this far then you might as well take the last step!

Tell your state rep to protect #Sicklecellwarriors from #COVID19 by increasing access to outpatient and preventive services here

https://hematology.org/advocacy/action-alerts-campaigns/contact-congress-in-support-of-improving-medicaid-outpatient-services-for-scd-patients

Thanks for coming to my Twitter Ted Talk