LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 2016, 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 memori-
alize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2016, as Minority
Health Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with National
Minority Health Month; and
WHEREAS, The theme of this year's Sixth National Health Month is
"Accelerating Health Equity for the Nation"; 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 organiza-
tions 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 2016, as Minority
Health Month in the State of New York; 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.