The New York State Senate passed a Legislative Resolution proclaiming February 7, 2012 as Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day in New York. Senator Velmanette Montgomery is a sponsor of the the Resolution that reads as follows:
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 7, 2012, as Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD); and
WHEREAS, February 7, 2012, marks the 12th Anniversary of NBHAAD; this year's theme is "I Am My Brothers/Sisters Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS"; and
WHEREAS, The founders of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day include: Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia; Health Watch Information and Promotion Services, Inc.; Jackson State University - Mississippi Urban Research Center; National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council; and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; and
WHEREAS, The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day community stands to provide capacity building assistance to Black communities and organizations throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, In its mission to mitigate and eventually eliminate the spread of HIV, the four focal points of Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are: education, testing, involvement and treatment; and
WHEREAS, A National HIV/AIDS testing and treatment community mobilization initiative is designed to encourage Blacks across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved, and get treated around HIV/AIDS as it continues to devastate Black communities; and
WHEREAS, According the the United States Census Bureau, in the State of New York, Blacks/African Americans comprise about 15 percent of the State's population, yet account for nearly half of all new HIV patients; and
WHEREAS, Data from the New York State Department of Health shows that Blacks/African Americans are 10 times more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with HIV, with 67.6 new diagnoses per 100,000 individuals as compared to 6.6 per 100,000 for Whites; and
WHEREAS, According to the New York State Health Department's AIDS Institute, over 55,000 Blacks/African Americans live with HIV/AIDS in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Harlem ranks first in AIDS-related deaths in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In the City of New York, Black and Latino females have constituted 92 percent of all new HIV diagnoses among females, stated by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and
WHEREAS, It is crucial that days such as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are observed in order to continue raising awareness and eventually, terminating the spread of HIV/AIDS, not only in Black/African American communities but all communities throughout the State of New York, the United States of America, and around the world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 7, 2012, as Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction
with the observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.
