THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS, LOGAN, ERICKSON, BRUBAKER, DINNIMAN, PILEGGI, STACK, MUSTO, O'PAKE, ALLOWAY, STOUT AND FONTANA, APRIL 20, 2009

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 20, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating April 2009 as "National Minority Health Awareness

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human

Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH) has chosen

preconception health as the focus for National Minority Health

Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Infant mortality rates for African-American citizens

are more than double that of the United States as a whole, with

more than 7,500 infant deaths per year; and

WHEREAS, The top three leading causes of infant deaths for

African Americans are low birth weight, congenital malformation

and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and many causes of infant

mortality are preventable; and

WHEREAS, African-American mothers are 2.6 times more likely

than Caucasian mothers to begin prenatal care in the third

trimester or to not receive any prenatal care; and

WHEREAS, The OMH is launching "A Healthy Baby Begins with

You," a national campaign to raise awareness about infant

mortality with an emphasis on the African-American community, as

one of its efforts to end health disparities among minorities;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate April 2009, as "National

Minority Health Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and urge all

citizens to strongly support this day and participate in events

planned to bring due attention to the importance of

preconception health care and the prevention of infant

mortality.