Senate Passes Resolution Proclaiming February 7, 2012 as Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

The New York State Senate passed a Legislative Resolution proclaiming February 7, 2012 as  Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day in New York. Senator Velmanette Montgomery is a sponsor of the the Resolution that reads as follows:

WHEREAS,  It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February  7,  2012,  as  Black  HIV/AIDS Awareness  Day  in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD); and
WHEREAS, February 7, 2012, marks the 12th Anniversary of NBHAAD;  this year's theme is "I Am My Brothers/Sisters Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS"; and
WHEREAS,  The  founders  of  National  Black  HIV/AIDS  Awareness  Day include:  Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia; Health Watch Information and Promotion Services, Inc.; Jackson State University -  Mississippi  Urban  Research  Center; National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council; and the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; and
WHEREAS, The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day community stands to  provide capacity building assistance to Black communities and  organizations throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS,  In  its  mission  to  mitigate  and eventually eliminate the spread of HIV, the four focal points of  Black  HIV/AIDS  Awareness  Day are: education, testing, involvement and treatment; and
WHEREAS, A National HIV/AIDS testing and treatment community mobilization initiative is designed to encourage Blacks across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved, and get treated  around HIV/AIDS as it continues to devastate Black communities; and
WHEREAS, According the the United States Census Bureau, in  the  State  of  New  York, Blacks/African Americans comprise about 15 percent of the State's population, yet account for nearly half of all new HIV patients; and
WHEREAS, Data from the New York State Department of Health shows  that Blacks/African  Americans  are  10  times  more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with HIV, with 67.6 new diagnoses per 100,000  individuals  as compared to 6.6 per 100,000 for Whites; and
WHEREAS,  According  to  the  New  York State Health Department's AIDS Institute, over 55,000 Blacks/African Americans live  with  HIV/AIDS  in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Harlem ranks first in AIDS-related deaths in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS,  In  the  City  of  New  York,  Black and Latino females have constituted 92 percent of all new HIV diagnoses among females, stated by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and
WHEREAS, It is crucial that  days  such  as  National  Black  HIV/AIDS Awareness  Day  are  observed in order to continue raising awareness and eventually,  terminating  the  spread   of   HIV/AIDS,   not   only   in Black/African  American  communities  but 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 February  7,  2012,  as Black  HIV/AIDS  Awareness  Day in the State of New York, in conjunction
 with the observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; 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.