PRINTER'S NO. 2464
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
490
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, KINSEY, BIZZARRO, DAWKINS, CRUZ, McNEILL,
McCLINTON, HENNESSEY, FREEMAN, MURT, HARRIS, KORTZ,
SCHLOSSBERG, DiGIROLAMO, RAVENSTAHL, SHUSTERMAN, WILLIAMS,
YOUNGBLOOD, BURNS, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, MALAGARI, BERNSTINE,
CALTAGIRONE, SCHWEYER AND KIM, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing September 18, 2019, as "HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, More than 36 million people in the world live with
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a virus that affects the
immune system by attacking its most important cells and
weakening the body's response to infection; and
WHEREAS, HIV is carried for life and can often manifest into
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as
noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and
arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Nearly half of Americans diagnosed with HIV in 2015
were 50 years of age or older and nearly one in six HIV
diagnoses in 2016 were in this age group; and
WHEREAS, It is now estimated that 1.1 million United States
citizens currently live with HIV, with one in four individuals
50 years of age or older being affected by the disease; and
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WHEREAS, Many older adults are often just as much at risk as
younger adults because they are unaware of the symptoms and
prevention methods for HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, Older adults are more likely to have late-stage HIV
infection when diagnosed, and they experience the largest
diagnosis delay compared to any other age group; and
WHEREAS, Older HIV patients and their health care providers
should discuss prevention and care efforts for other diseases
that they are at risk for given their age, including
cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and osteoporosis; and
WHEREAS, Due to modern science and research, people living
with HIV that have access to treatments are now able to live
long and healthy lives; and
WHEREAS, By 2008, the United States HIV infection rate was
considered stable and remains so today; and
WHEREAS, From 2011 to 2015, HIV diagnoses among people 50
years of age or older decreased by 7%; and
WHEREAS, Days committed to educating the nation on HIV and
AIDS have included "National HIV Testing Day," "National Gay
Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" and "World AIDS Day," which began
in 1988; and
WHEREAS, "HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day" seeks to educate
Pennsylvanians about HIV and what we as a Commonwealth can do to
educate, prevent and treat this disease among our older adult
population; and
WHEREAS, It is important that we as a Commonwealth know the
history behind HIV and how it has impacted our State, country
and the world; and
WHEREAS, "HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day" is an opportunity
for individuals in this Commonwealth to show their support for
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older adults living with HIV, promote HIV testing, educate
others on HIV and remember those whose lives were lost to this
debilitating disease; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
September 18, 2019, as "HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day" in
Pennsylvania.
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