Explanation
Title
To declare May 18, 2004, as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.
Body
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that as many as 950,000 Americans are living with HIV and 1,955 of this total are living in Columbus/Franklin County as of June 30, 2002; and
WHEREAS, over 40,000 people in the U.S. become infected with HIV yearly and of those, seventy percent are men, thirty percent are women and half are younger than 25 years of age; and
WHEREAS, more than half of all new HIV infections occur in African Americans, who make up 12 percent of the U.S. population; and
WHEREAS, AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death of African Americans ages 15-44 and is the number one cause of death in African American men of all ages; and
WHEREAS, in Franklin County, African Americans accounted for 18 percent of the population and 33 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, the best prevention for HIV infection is a safe and effective vaccine; and that the AIDS crisis is not over; HIV preventive vaccines are the best hope to stop the global epidemic
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That May 18, 2004, be declared HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we recognize and acknowledge the contribution of thousands of study volunteers, scientists, and health professionals committed to finding a safe and effective vaccine.