HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRO Archive - 03/18/2014 - Proclamation Rare DiseaseRecognizing Rare Disease Day
WHEREAS, on February 28 the National Organization for Rare Disorders and the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) held National Rare Disease Day; and
WHEREAS, as part of the awareness effort, Fulton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert M.
Avossa joined Senator John Albers and Mayor Joe Lockwood at Crabapple
Crossing Elementary in recognizing the courageous fight of three students; and
WHEREAS, there are nearly 7,000 diseases and conditions considered rare (each affecting
fewer than 200,000 Americans) in the United States, according to the NIH; and
.WHEREAS, while each of these diseases may affect small numbers of people, rare diseases as
a whole affect almost 30 million Americans; and
WHEREAS, while more than 450 drugs and biologics have been approved for the treatment of
rare diseases according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), millions of
Americans still have rare diseases for which there is no approved treatment; and
WHEREAS, individuals and families affected by rare diseases often experience problems such
as diagnosis delay, difficulty finding a medical expert, and lack of access to
treatments or ancillary services; and
WHEREAS, thousands of residents of Georgia, and hundreds in Milton, are among those
affected by rare diseases since nearly one in ten Americans have rare diseases; and
WHEREAS, thousands of patients and caregivers, medical professionals, researchers,
companies developing orphan products to treat people with rare diseases, and
others in the state of Georgia will participate in that observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Milton, let it be resolved that the
City ofMilton observed Rare Disease Day.
Given under our hand and seal of the City of Milton, Georgia on this 17th day of March,
2014.
~ayorJ~