State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_SR0374

 
                                               LRB9216536RHrh

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, In 2000,  the  Surgeon  General  of  the  Public
 3    Health Service announced as a goal the elimination by 2010 of
 4    health   disparities   experienced   by   racial  and  ethnic
 5    minorities in health access and outcome in  6  areas:  infant
 6    mortality,    cancer   screening,   cardiovascular   disease,
 7    diabetes,  acquired  immunodeficiency  syndrome   and   human
 8    immunodeficiency virus infection, and immunizations; and

 9        WHEREAS,  Despite  notable progress in the overall health
10    of  the  Nation,  there  is  a  crisis  of  minority  health,
11    consisting of continuing disparities in the burden of illness
12    and death experienced by African-Americans, Hispanics, Native
13    Americans, Alaska Natives,  Asians,  and  Pacific  Islanders,
14    compared to the United States population as a whole; and

15        WHEREAS, Minorities suffer more than 60,000 excess deaths
16    annually, compared to nonminorities; and

17        WHEREAS, Minorities are more likely than nonminorities to
18    die  from  cancer,  cardiovascular  disease, stroke, chemical
19    dependency, diabetes, infant  mortality,  violence,  and,  in
20    recent years, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; and

21        WHEREAS,   Minority   populations   are   not  benefiting
22    equitably from advances in medical research  and  technology;
23    and

24        WHEREAS,  Minority populations face substantial cultural,
25    social, and economic barriers  to  obtaining  access  to  and
26    delivery of health care; and

27        WHEREAS,  Minorities  have made significant contributions
28    to the United States, yet are underrepresented in the  health
29    care professions; and

30        WHEREAS,  The crisis in minority health results in losses
 
                            -2-                LRB9216536RHrh
 1    of billions of  dollars  by  the  United  States  because  of
 2    reduced  productivity and increased health care expenditures;
 3    and

 4        WHEREAS, The establishment of a National Minority  Health
 5    Month  for  the  month  of  April  would encourage all health
 6    organizations in the United  States  to  host  activities  to
 7    promote  healthfulness in minority communities; therefore, be
 8    it

 9        RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-SECOND  GENERAL
10    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATE  OF ILLINOIS, that  we recognize the
11    month of April as "Minority Health Awareness  Month"  in  the
12    interest of promoting healthier lifestyles and greater access
13    to  quality health care for minorities in Illinois; and be it
14    further

15        RESOLVED, That we encourage every citizen of the State of
16    Illinois  to  annually  observe  "Minority  Health  Awareness
17    Month"  by  supporting  and  participating  in  programs  and
18    activities to attack the many problems  associated  with  the
19    health   status   disparities   persistently  experienced  by
20    minorities in Illinois.

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