The Department of Health and Environmental Control 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.