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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, February 7, 2013, is the 12th annual commemoration
3and observance of National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness
4Day; and
 
5    WHEREAS, This observance is a nationwide effort to mobilize
6African-American communities to get educated, get tested, get
7involved, and get treated around HIV/AIDS, as it continues to
8devastate African-American communities; and
 
9    WHEREAS, National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
10is directed, planned, and strategically implemented by
11HIV/AIDS organizations to mobilize community-based
12organizations aid stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS
13prevention, care and treatment; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Nearly 46,000 residents of Illinois are living
15with HIV and 55% of people diagnosed with HIV are
16African-American; and
 
17    WHEREAS, African-American gay men under the age of 30 in
18Chicago have an infection rate 3 times greater than their white
19counterparts; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Over two-thirds of women diagnosed with HIV in the

 

 

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1United States are African-American; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Among African-Americans ages 25-44, HIV was the
34th leading cause of death for men and third leading cause of
4death for women, higher than any other racial group; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Numerous organizations, faith-based institutions,
6public health entities, and impacted citizens are hosting
7community events to recognize this day and its importance to
8African-Americans and all concerned citizens; and
 
9    WHEREAS, It is fitting that we join with these local,
10national, and international groups to express our strong
11support for National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
12and the initiatives to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in
13African-American communities and provide access to and
14utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and support
15services to those affected by HIV/AIDS; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18we designate February 7, 2013, as National African-American
19HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in State of Illinois and encourage the
20citizens of this State to strongly support this day and
21participate in events planned to commemorate the occasion.