Connectional Health Commission Establishes Partnership to Treat Sickle Cell Anemia
In January 2019, the International Health Commission—in collaboration with Isaiah Inspires—established a partnership with Jones Tabernacle AME Church in Philadelphia (pastored by the Rev. Miriam J. Burnett, MD), New Bethel AME Church in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, (pastored by the Rev. Kemperal Hinsley), and Union AME Church in Warwick, New York (pastored by the Rev. Ann Marie Bentsi-Addison Posey) to supply support kits to Sickle Cell Warriors in Episcopal Districts 14-20. After hearing about the program, several other entities joined, including the Philadelphia Annual Conference Women’s Missionary Society, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Sickle Cell Division, and the Philadelphia-Delaware Valley Sickle Cell Association.
The partnership was initiated by Isaiah Huff, an 11-year old “Sickler,” who is a member of New Bethel AME Church and the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Sickle Cell Association Youth Advocate. Isaiah started Isaiah Inspires several years ago to provide education and awareness about Sickle Cell Diseases and provide supplies and gifts for Sickle Cell Warriors. In December 2018, he was watching a video about Sickle Cell in Africa and decided he wanted to do something. After speaking with his mother, Shanna Huff-Green, and the Rev. Dr. Burnett (his pastor for nearly eight years), the project was launched with the Young People’s Division of the three churches.
After a tremendous expression of thankfulness from the recipients, coupled with generous financial and supply gifts at the 19th Women’s Missionary Society Quadrennial, this project has been converted into a long-term program. The partnership continues to grow, with God’s help, as there is an increasing request for support kits.
Words cannot express the heartfelt gratitude and love for the continued support of President Connie Smith and the Philadelphia Annual Conference Women’s Missionary Society. We are thankful for the many churches and individuals that donated supplies, finances, and words of encouragement. Your generosity and selflessness were not only recognized and applauded at the 19th WMS Quadrennial but also initiated overwhelming Connectional support through significant financial contributions. Due to all of your efforts and three original churches, 171 Sickle Cell support kits have been packed and delivered.
From the beginning, the International Health Commission partnered with the project—which by January 2019—developed it into a program arm of the Commission known as the “AMEC International Health Commission Sickle Cell Support Program.” The strategic plan to accommodate this amazing response now includes three areas of expansion: packing and distribution of kits, increased education, and medical mission trips.
We are seeking corporate donations, as well as plan to purchase supplies wholesale, to make this packing a monthly effort. This will allow us to send packed suitcases containing these needed basic supplies any time that an AME can hand-deliver them when traveling to Districts 14-20. We are developing regionally-based packing centers. In addition to the already established First District locations, health directors and coordinators throughout Districts 2-13 are being requested to consider leading packing centers. This will decrease the cost of transporting supplies and completed suitcases. The support kits include thermal hot packs, blankets, digital thermometers, hand sanitizer, ChapStick, journals, pens, notes of encouragement for other YPDers, socks, and toiletries. We would like to place the kits in waterproof string backpacks, add small first aid kits, and increase the number of thermal heat packs to 10. Presently, the kit only includes enough to address one day of a sickle cell crisis (two heat packs). The average crisis lasts five days. We would like to add renewal kits for those who have experienced a sickle cell crisis. The renewal kit would contain everything in the initial kit except the blanket. Presiding Elder Collins Kavuka, the International Health Commission Global Health Director, is coordinating the registration of Sickle Cell Warriors to continue contact for encouragement, supply renewal, education, and medical mission trips.
Through an alliance with Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Sickle Cell Association, we are seeking to expand the partnership to all Sickle Cell Associations to provide education, seminars or webinars, and educational materials. We are increasing education housed on www.amechealth.org, the official International Health Commission website. We will include “How to Stay Healthy” information in the support kits.
We are seeking partnership with US-based Sickle Cell Centers, with a global presence, for support. We are also seeking partnerships to provide immunizations that are crucial to the health of all, especially those with Sickle Cell.
We thank every one of you for helping to make this program, initiated by “Isaiah Inspires,” a reality! Please pray for the expansion and continued financial and resource support.
