Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, the health and safety of all Virginians is important to the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of our Commonwealth’s families and communities; and

WHEREAS, scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine, and idiopathic scoliosis has no known cause; and

WHEREAS, scoliosis affects two to three percent of the population, or an estimated six to nine million people in the United States; and

WHEREAS, scoliosis is a condition that strikes without regard to gender, race, age or economic status; and

WHEREAS, the primary age of onset for scoliosis is between 10 and 15, and females are eight times more likely to progress to a curve magnitude that requires treatment; and

WHEREAS, increased public awareness of scoliosis helps children, parents, adults, and health care providers understand, recognize, and treat the complexities of spinal deformities such as scoliosis; and

WHEREAS, screening programs can lead to early detection and treatment opportunities, which may alleviate the worst effects of scoliosis; and

WHEREAS, National Scoliosis Awareness Month is an opportunity to renew Virginia’s commitment to raising awareness of and combating the spinal condition of scoliosis, and to recognize the need for increased research and funding to reduce the pain and suffering it causes;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize June 2019 as NATIONAL SCOLIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.