Sickle cell education and prevention program

The Department of Public Health is hereby authorized to initiate a sickle cell education and prevention program based entirely upon voluntary cooperation of the individuals involved. The program shall provide: (1) laboratory testing of citizens in the reproductive ages to determine the presence of the sickle cell gene; (2) counselling for persons identified as carriers of the sickle cell gene, for the purpose of educating these persons about the risk of a child of the person inheriting sickle cell disease; (3) referral of persons with sickle cell disease, as necessary, so that they may obtain proper medical care and treatment, to include pain management; and (4) basic education to the general public about sickle cell disease, so as to eradicate the stigma attached to the disease.