* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Holton, Rawlings Blake
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS - March 5-11, 2006
FOR the purpose of supporting for the 17th Annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, which is a powerful week of prayer, education, and action, encouraging Black congregations to come together and empower African Americans to take action toward the stopping of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Black communities the world over.
Body
Recitals
Baltimore City leads the nation in the number of residents infected with the HIV virus and AIDS. The Division of Communicable Diseases and Epidemiology of Morgan State University revealed that there are more than 18,000 residents of the City living with HIV infection. This figure comprises the approximately 5000 citizens living with AIDS, the approximately 7000 people identified by the local health department as being HIV positive, several thousand more not tested or tested prior to surveillance in 1995, and the 15% HIV-positive population that rotates in and out of state and local prisons.
In 2000, 89% of persons living with HIV/AIDS were African Americans, 63% were men, and the number of women contracting the virus was approaching that of the number of men. These statistics mirror a national trend where 47% of cases reported nationwide were among African Americans, 63% of all women reported with AIDS were African Americans, 65% of the HIV diagnoses of young people (ages 13-24) were among African Americans, and African American children represented 65% of all reported pediatric AIDS cases.
We need to further support the education of our congregations, children, and neighbors on the effects, importance, and prevalence of this terrible disease. Our citizens need to be informed that there are ways to prevent the disease, as well as to educate, regarding the treatment programs that may be available to those with the illness. Finally, we must encourage everyone to be tested for the disease. Many of our citizens are living with HIV or AIDS and do not know it. Thus, the virus is being spread unknowingly within our communities. The fact is that the more informed people are the better decisions they will make. We have an opportunity this week to focus our attention on the issue and to educate out citizens and communities about this horrific disease which is crippling our communities. With the help of congregations, friends, and neighbors, we can come together as community and a city, to learn from one another, and to work together to combat this disease and curb the epidemic that has created a world of little hope for so many.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports the 17th Annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, which is a powerful week of prayer, education, and action, encouraging Black congregations to come together and empower African Americans to take action toward the stopping of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Black communities the world over.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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DRAFT 06MAR06 DRAFT 06MAR06
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