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92_SR0374
LRB9216536RHrh
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, In 2000, the Surgeon General of the Public
3 Health Service announced as a goal the elimination by 2010 of
4 health disparities experienced by racial and ethnic
5 minorities in health access and outcome in 6 areas: infant
6 mortality, cancer screening, cardiovascular disease,
7 diabetes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and human
8 immunodeficiency virus infection, and immunizations; and
9 WHEREAS, Despite notable progress in the overall health
10 of the Nation, there is a crisis of minority health,
11 consisting of continuing disparities in the burden of illness
12 and death experienced by African-Americans, Hispanics, Native
13 Americans, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders,
14 compared to the United States population as a whole; and
15 WHEREAS, Minorities suffer more than 60,000 excess deaths
16 annually, compared to nonminorities; and
17 WHEREAS, Minorities are more likely than nonminorities to
18 die from cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chemical
19 dependency, diabetes, infant mortality, violence, and, in
20 recent years, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; and
21 WHEREAS, Minority populations are not benefiting
22 equitably from advances in medical research and technology;
23 and
24 WHEREAS, Minority populations face substantial cultural,
25 social, and economic barriers to obtaining access to and
26 delivery of health care; and
27 WHEREAS, Minorities have made significant contributions
28 to the United States, yet are underrepresented in the health
29 care professions; and
30 WHEREAS, The crisis in minority health results in losses
-2- LRB9216536RHrh
1 of billions of dollars by the United States because of
2 reduced productivity and increased health care expenditures;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, The establishment of a National Minority Health
5 Month for the month of April would encourage all health
6 organizations in the United States to host activities to
7 promote healthfulness in minority communities; therefore, be
8 it
9 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
10 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the
11 month of April as "Minority Health Awareness Month" in the
12 interest of promoting healthier lifestyles and greater access
13 to quality health care for minorities in Illinois; and be it
14 further
15 RESOLVED, That we encourage every citizen of the State of
16 Illinois to annually observe "Minority Health Awareness
17 Month" by supporting and participating in programs and
18 activities to attack the many problems associated with the
19 health status disparities persistently experienced by
20 minorities in Illinois.