RESOLUTION CALLING FOR HEARINGS TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUING HIV CRISIS
IN CHICAGO'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
WHEREAS, the most recent available statistics place HIV disease as one ofthe top five leading causes of death in African American women between the ages of 35 to 44 and the seventh ranking cause in African American women between the ages of 20 to 34; and
WHEREAS, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health, this city's African Americans are afflicted with more than half of the newly diagnosed HIV and AIDS cases. Non-Hispanic African Americans were the most frequently diagnosed population, representing 58.5% of new HIV diagnoses, 56.4% of AIDS diagnoses, and 552% of late diagnoses; and
WHEREAS, according to a report by Tuskegee University, African-American HIV/AIDS CBO community-based service providers who are based in and serving these communities across Chicago receive less than 5% of Chicago's HIV/AIDS budget allocated through the Chicago Department of Public Health; and
WHEREAS the highest rates of new individual HIV infection diagnoses occurred in the predominantly African American neighborhoods of Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, North Lawndale, Washington Park, and West Garfield Park; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that action be taken to halt new HIV infections among these at-risk African American men and women which continues at an alarmingrate of more than 80% while new cases of such infections amongthe corresponding at-risk Caucasian demographic has dramatically decreased to a current rate of less than 20%; and
WHEREAS, as a result, the Chicago Department of Public Health has determined that this at-risk population is one of the 5 demographics selected for fundingbeginning in early 2019 for support of community development initiatives. It is also imperative that the voices of those most imminently affected by this important health issue be heard before the awarding ofany fundingis considered; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned members ofthe City of Chicago City Council, gathered on the 23rd Day of May 2022 AD, do hereby call upon the Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Public Health to expeditiously convene public hearings in the council chambers as well aswithin the communities so affected to take testimony from experts and the public concerning the amelioration of this disturbing and reversible public health threat.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Allison Arwady.
RODERICK T. SAWYER Alderman - 6th Ward