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To honor and recognize February 7, 2008 as the eighth annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Columbus, Ohio
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WHEREAS, The mission of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is to build the capacity and increase awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African Americans; and,
WHEREAS, The Integrated Epidemiologic Profile for Ohio indicates African Americans are disproportionately represented among HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed from 2002-2004, which is the most current data available, and the rate of persons living with HIV/AIDS per 100,000 is nearly six times higher among African Americans compared to whites; and,
WHEREAS, The prevalence rate of HIV infection is more than eight times higher for black women than for white women (264 per 100,000 for black females and 33 per 100,000 for white females); and,
WHEREAS, In Central Ohio, HIV among females has tripled in the last decade. African American women account for 57% of the females living with HIV in Franklin County; and,
WHEREAS, The primary goal of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is to motivate African Americans to get tested and know their HIV status, get educated about the transmission modes of HIV/AIDS, get involved in their local community, and get treated if they are currently living with HIV or are newly diagnosed; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize February 7, 2008 as marking the eighth annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Columbus, Ohio.