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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
19-332
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
November 15, 2012
To declare December 1, 2012 as “World AIDS Day” in the District of Columbia in order to raise awareness of the continued fight to combat HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia and worldwide.
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) an estimated 50,000 Americans are newly infected with HIV each year;
WHEREAS, approximately 1.2 million Americans are currently living with HIV infection;
WHEREAS, the CDC estimates that one in 5 of those infected do not know they are HIV-positive and may be engaging in behaviors that increase their risk of transmitting HIV;
WHEREAS, African-Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV, making up only 14% of the population, but nearly half (44%) of all new infections;
WHEREAS, in 2009 Hispanics/Latinos comprised 15% of the population, but accounted for 20% of new HIV infections;
WHEREAS, there are currently more than 34 million individuals living with HIV worldwide;
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis Epidemiology Annual Report of 2011 shows that in 2010 there were 14,465 District residents living with HIV/AIDS, or 2.7% of the population;
WHEREAS, 92.4% of District women infected with HIV are black, and 75.4% of District residents living with HIV are black;
WHEREAS, in the District of Columbia, residents over the age of 40 represent the highest proportions of those currently living with HIV, with 6.6% of residents 40 through 49 years of age and 5.5% of residents 50 through 59 years of age currently living with HIV;
WHEREAS, in 2010 there were 477 newly diagnosed AIDS cases and 66 deaths from HIV-related causes in the District, down from 700 and 238 respectively in 2006;
WHEREAS, in 2010 there were, for the second year in a row, zero reported mother-to-child transmissions;
WHEREAS, HIV cases from IV drug use are down 72% since 2007, due largely to the expansion of the District’s needle exchange program;
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia is committed to combating this epidemic through a variety of programs, including free HIV testing, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, counseling, funding for medical care, and a variety of other initiatives;
WHEREAS, World AIDS Day 2012 is a global crusade to raise awareness, increase access to testing and treatment, and bring the world together through a number of events each designed to combat the epidemic;
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia hosted the AIDS 2012 Conference last July; and
WHEREAS, recognizing World AIDS Day reaffirms the District’s commitment to combating this epidemic both locally and globally.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “World AIDS Day in the District of Columbia Recognition Resolution of 2012”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby declares December 1, 2012 as “World AIDS Day” in the District of Columbia and supports the ongoing collaborative efforts of the District of Columbia government, health care providers, and community-based organizations to fight this epidemic.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
