PRINTER'S NO. 1956
No. 327 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY C. WILLIAMS, HUGHES, MELLOW, FUMO, FERLO, FONTANA,
KITCHEN, EARLL, TARTAGLIONE, CONTI, ARMSTRONG, GREENLEAF,
STOUT, O'PAKE, MUSTO, LEMMOND, PILEGGI, COSTA, BROWNE AND
BOSCOLA, JUNE 27, 2006
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 27, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing June 27, 2006, as "National HIV Testing Day."
2 WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
3 estimates that 850,000 to 950,000 Americans are living with
4 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including more than 300,000
5 living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); and
6 WHEREAS, The proportion of all AIDS cases reported among
7 adolescent and adult women in the United States has more than
8 tripled since 1986; and
9 WHEREAS, In 2003 women accounted for 26% of reported AIDs
10 cases: African-American women comprised 67% of those cases, and
11 Latin-American women comprised 18% of those cases; and
12 WHEREAS, In the United States, AIDS is the fourth leading
13 cause of death among women between the ages of 25 and 44 and the
14 leading cause of death among African-American women ages 25 to
15 34; and
16 WHEREAS, At least half of the people becoming infected with
1 HIV each year are under the age of 25; and
2 WHEREAS, Timely administration of antiretroviral drugs during
3 pregnancy can reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV
4 transmission from 25% to less than 2% and also improves the
5 health of the mother; and
6 WHEREAS, African Americans are the group most affected by
7 HIV/AIDS; and
8 WHEREAS, Although African Americans represented 13% of the
9 population in 2003, they represented 40% of the total AIDS cases
10 and half of all newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases; and
11 WHEREAS, Latin Americans make up only about 14% of the
12 population of the United States and Puerto Rico, but as of 2003
13 they represented 20% of new AIDS diagnoses; and
14 WHEREAS, In 2003 gay and bisexual men accounted for an
15 estimated 57% of AIDS cases among men; and
16 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has the seventh highest number of
17 reported AIDS cases; and
18 WHEREAS, An estimated one-third of persons who are HIV
19 positive do not know they are infected; and
20 WHEREAS, There are a variety of HIV tests available,
21 including tests using urine or oral fluid samples instead of
22 blood samples for anyone reluctant to have blood drawn; and
23 WHEREAS, Many places offer HIV testing, including local
24 health departments, doctors' offices, hospitals and sites set up
25 specifically to provide HIV screening; and
26 WHEREAS, CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or www.hivtest.org provide
27 information about testing and local testing sites; and
28 WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS continues to affect growing numbers of
29 individuals and communities across this Commonwealth; therefore
30 be it
20060S0327R1956 - 2 -
1 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize June 27, 2006, as
2 "National HIV Testing Day" and encourage the citizens of
3 Pennsylvania to take control of their health by getting tested
4 for HIV.
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