Mayor Eduardo Martinez
City of Richmond
01/23/2024
PROCLAMATION
Proclamation Declaring February 29th, 2024, as Rare Disease Day in the City of Richmond
WHEREAS, rare diseases affect an estimated 400 million people worldwide, two-third of whom are children, with over 7,000 rare diseases identified to date, many of which are life-threatening and have no known cures; and
WHEREAS, individuals with rare diseases often face significant challenges in receiving an accurate diagnosis, accessing appropriate treatment and care, and navigating the complexities of the healthcare system; and
WHEREAS, our country’s for-profit healthcare system makes treatment and care for all diseases overly expensive, burdensome, and is more responsive to corporate profits than human need; and WHEREAS, people with rare diseases are even more vulnerable to the healthcare industry’s profit motive, as treatments and cures are either not economically appealing to treat or are incredibly expensive to procure; and
WHEREAS, while the public is familiar with some rare diseases, many patients, families, and caregivers affected by lesser-known rare diseases bear the burden of funding research and raising public awareness to support the search for treatments; and WHEREAS, municipalities, including Richmond, do not adequately anticipate or accommodate the daily needs of disabled people; and
WHEREAS, our city must better support individuals with rare diseases, their families, their caregivers, and the organizations that work tirelessly to advance research, provide resources and services, and raise awareness of the impact of rare diseases; and WHEREAS, thousands of residents of the City of Richmond are among those affected by rare diseases, as nearly one in 20 people in the United States have rare diseases; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eduardo Martinez, Mayor of the City of Richmond, do hereby proclaim February 29th, 2024, as Rare Disease Day in Richmond, and call upon all residents to observe this day by learning more about rare diseases, supporting individuals, families, and caregivers affected by these conditions and advocating for increased awareness, research, and access to affordable and quality healthcare for all individuals living with rare diseases.