Senate Resolution No. 2627

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 2020, as Minority Health Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2020, as Minority
Health Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with National
Public Health Week, April 6-12, 2020; and

WHEREAS, This year marks the 25th Anniversary of National Public
Health Week; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Office of Minority Health and Health
Disparities Prevention (OMH-HDP) was established in 1992 by an amendment
to the New York State Public Health Law to focus on the health concerns
of minorities in New York State; and

WHEREAS, OMH-HDP is dedicated to improving the health of racial and
ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies
and programs that will help eliminate health disparities; and

WHEREAS, When comparing their health indicators against those of the
rest of the United States population, poor health outcomes for African
Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are apparent; and

WHEREAS, These populations experience higher rates of illness and
death from health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, specific
cancers, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, asthma, hepatitis B, and overweight and
obesity; and

WHEREAS, OMH-HDP's primary responsibility is to serve as a statewide
resource for effecting the elimination of health disparities across all
impacted populations by ensuring that everyone, regardless of ethnic or
racial background or the community to which they belong, has access to
the resources and services they need to be healthy; and

WHEREAS, OMH-HDP's programs address disease prevention, health
promotion, risk reduction, healthier lifestyle choices, use of health
care services, and barriers to health care; and

WHEREAS, OMH-HDP works in partnership with communities and
organizations in the public and private sectors; these collaborations
support a systems approach for eliminating health disparities, and
coordinated responses through focused initiatives; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the

local, State and national levels to improve health and healthcare
outcomes for racial and ethnic minority communities; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2020, as Minority
Health Month in the State of New York; 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.