LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 10, 2014, as Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in
the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National
Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious public health
issues that affect the lives of the residents of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is moved to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 10, 2014, as Women and Girls
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; and
WHEREAS, Of the 1.1 million people in the United States living with
HIV, women 13 or older make up about 25% of all HIV diagnoses; and
WHEREAS, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an annual,
nationwide observance that sheds light on the increasing impact of
HIV/AIDS on women and girls; the goal of this day is to offer support
and hope, reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS, and empower women and girls to
embrace the theme, "Share Knowledge. Take Action"; and
WHEREAS, An important element of halting the spread of HIV is to
increase individuals' awareness of their status; nearly 180,000 people
in the United States do not know they are HIV-positive and, of this
group, approximately 27,000 are women and girls; and
WHEREAS, It is important that women and girls get tested so they can
know their status, make better health choices, reduce the risk of
getting or transmitting the virus to others, and live longer, healthier
lives if they are HIV-positive; due to delays in seeking testing, many
individuals are diagnosed so late in the course of their HIV disease
that they have already developed full-blown AIDS; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York has the largest number of women living
with HIV in the country, with 38,840 women being affected; and
WHEREAS, Women of color make up approximately 90 percent of New York
women living with HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, Black women account for 13% of all new HIV infections, and
the majority, at 64%, of all new infections among women overall; by the
end of 2010, Hispanic/Latina women had an HIV infection rate more than
four times that of white women, representing15% of new HIV infections
among women and 19% of all women living with HIV; and
WHEREAS, Older women are also at particular risk, as they are more
likely than younger Americans to be diagnosed with HIV at a later stage
in the disease which can lead to poorer diagnoses and shorter
HIV-to-AIDS intervals; and
WHEREAS, It is crucial that days such as National Women and Girls
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are observed in order to continue to raise aware-
ness and eventually halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, not only among women,
but across 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 March 10, 2014, as
Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.