Honoring and Commending the North Central Philadelphia Health Coalition on the occasion of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

WHEREAS, AIDS is the number one killer of African American men and women between the ages of twenty five (25) and forty four (44); and

WHEREAS, February 7, 2003 is the 3rd annual “National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day” a day in which events will occur throughout the nation to bring attention to the devastation that AIDS causes in the African American community and the need for increased prevention and education efforts; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, as of December 2002, African Americans represented sixty five percent (65%) of all reported AIDS cases, a number that far exceeds the percentage of African Americans in the Philadelphia population; and

WHEREAS, One of the leaders in coordinating events for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Philadelphia is the North Central Philadelphia Health Coalition; and

WHEREAS, The North Central Philadelphia Health Coalition is an umbrella organization for a number of committed organizations that are tireless in their efforts to address a variety of health needs for people of color; and

WHEREAS, The common mission of all members of the coalition is to implement treatment and education efforts to alleviate the horrible effects of HIV and AIDS not just on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day but every day; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia based members of the coalition include: BEBASHI, Calcutta House, Circle of Care, City Wide Youth Agency, Gaudenzia House, HOPE Clinic, Hunting Park Health Center-GPHA, Maternity Care Coalition, Minute by Minute, One Day at a Time, Sobriety Through Out-Patient, Stop and Surrender, The RIGHT Foundation, Women’s Christian Alliance, Women’s Institute for Family Health, and YOACAP; and

WHEREAS, Through the efforts of the North Central Philadelphia Health Coalition, it is certain that lives have been saved and pain has been eased; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend the North Central Philadelphia Health Coalition on the occasion of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Denise Pride of the North Central Philadelphia Health Coalition as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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