Explanation
Title
To honor and congratulate the Commission on Minority Health as they celebrate their 20th Year Anniversary.
Body
WHEREAS, minority populations face substantial cultural, social, and economic barriers to obtaining access to adequate and competent health care; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the Secretary's Task Force Report on Black and Minority Health. The Report, clearly established that a disparity in health status existed between the majority and minority populations in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, in response to this disparity the State of Ohio created the Governor's Task Force on Black and Minority Health as a special project under the Ohio Department of Health; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order 85-69, written by State Senator Ray Miller, authorized the task force to carry out several important initiatives which included examining the conditions under which gaps in the health and health care services for black and minority communities exist, developing strategies to improve the availability and accessibility of health professionals to minority communities, and recommending methods by which the gaps could be closed; and
WHEREAS, In July 1987, under the sponsorship of Senator Ray Miller, the Ohio General Assembly passed amended substitute House Bill 171, thus creating the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. The Commission was the first concerted effort by a state to address the disparity in health status between majority and minority populations. The Commission is an autonomous state agency with a biennial appropriation of $3.5 million dollars of general revenue funds; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor and congratulate the Commission on Minority Health as they celebrate their 20th Year Anniversary.