LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim April 2010 as Minority Health Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, The U.S. Office of Minority Health has historically celebrated
the month of April as National Minority Health Month; and the focus this
year is men's health and its impact on our communities; and
WHEREAS, National Minority Health Month seeks to increase the quality
and years of the public's life and to eliminate health disparities,
including differences that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education
or income, disability, geographic location or sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, The theme for National Minority Health Month 2010 is "Man Up
For Your Health! Healthy Men Move Our Communities Forward"; and
WHEREAS, Despite great improvements in the overall health of the
Nation, Americans including blacks or Africans, Native Americans and
Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, other Pacific Islanders and Hispanics
or Latinos are likely more than whites to have poor health and to die
prematurely; and
WHEREAS, There is a need to get men connected to the health care
system by actively taking responsibility for their own well-being;
studies have shown that premature death and disability among men greatly
contributes to poverty rates, particularly among minorities; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Human Services has selected six
focus areas in which racial and ethnic minorities experience serious
disparities in health access and outcomes, such as Cancer Screening and
Management, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, HIV Infection/AIDS, Immun-
izations and Infant Mortality; in addition, the following conditions
disproportionately affect minorities: Mental Health, Hepatitis, Syphilis
and Tuberculosis; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of New York deserve access to quality health
care; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 1 through April
30, 2010, as Minority Health Month, and calls upon public officials,
educators, social workers, medical professionals, and all the people of
this Great State to observe Minority Health Month and to recognize the
important role of healthy citizens in ensuring the health of New York
State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York, and to the Office of Minority Health of the New York State Health
Department.