Plasma Awareness Week

Proclamation

By the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, Plasma Awareness Week is recognized as October 9-15 with observances throughout the United States designed to raise awareness of the importance of plasma donation and its impact on patients with rare diseases, recognize the contributions of plasma donors to saving and improving lives, and to increase understanding about life-saving plasma protein therapies and the conditions they treat; and

WHEREAS, plasma-derived and recombinant therapies, collectively known as plasma protein therapies are unique, biologic products for which no substitutes exist to save and improve lives of individuals throughout Alabama and the United States; and

WHEREAS, plasma protein therapies are used to treat many conditions including hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, primary immune deficiencies, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, hereditary angioedema, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and Rh negative pregnancies; and

WHEREAS, these therapies substantially increase quality of life, extend life expectancy, and improve patient outcomes for an estimated 1,800 individuals in the state of Alabama; and

WHEREAS, each year approximately 7,300 pregnant women in Alabama receive a plasma protein therapy to protect mother and baby from complications due to incompatible blood types; and

WHEREAS, there are 14 plasma donation centers in Alabama certified under the International Quality Plasma Program where healthy and committed donors provide plasma that is used to manufacture high-impact, life-saving therapies:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the week of October 9th, through October 15th, 2016, as

Plasma Awareness Week

in the State of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 1st day of October 2016.

Robert Bentley

Governor