Title
To recognize World AIDS Day and to encourage Columbus Public Health and its dedicated community partners to continue their efforts to serve and alleviate issues related to reducing HIV, AIDS and other STDs.
Body
WHEREAS, World AIDS day was launched in 1988 by the World Health Organization as one of eight global public health campaigns created to raise international awareness regarding a pandemic that has claimed more than 35 million lives; and
WHEREAS, more than 2,200 residents have died from HIV or AIDS complications in the State of Ohio since the epidemic began; and
WHEREAS, more than 21,000 Ohioans live with HIV - with more than 4,600 residing in Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, HIV and AIDS continue to plague communities around the State of Ohio; 199 new cases were reported in 2016; and
WHEREAS, a racial disparity exists as African Americans have an HIV/AIDS rate which is 3.7 times higher than whites; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, expresses its appreciation for the strong partnerships which exists between the Ohio AIDS Coalition, Columbus Public Health, Equitas Health, FACES Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the OSU Student Wellness Center- who will come together on World AIDS Day to continue the crusade to diminish and raise awareness about this disease; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus also embraces its obligation to mitigate this issue for the public health and welfare of its citizens, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize World AIDS Day and adopt this resolution to raise awareness in the City of Columbus and encourage Columbus Public Health and its committed community partners to continue their efforts to serve and alleviate issues related to HIV, AIDS and other STDs.