PRINTER'S NO. 1157
No. 139 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY C. WILLIAMS, O'PAKE, WAGNER, KITCHEN, FERLO,
ARMSTRONG, ORIE, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE, ERICKSON, BRIGHTBILL,
CONTI, TOMLINSON, STOUT, LAVALLE, SCHWARTZ, MELLOW AND
A. WILLIAMS, SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating September 16, 2003, as "Take a Loved One to the
2 Doctor Day" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, In the United States there exists a serious health
4 gap between racial and ethnic minority populations and the
5 general public; and
6 WHEREAS, African Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives,
7 Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians and other
8 Pacific Islanders suffer from serious disparities in health
9 status and outcomes; and
10 WHEREAS, Heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes, infant
11 mortality, sudden infant death syndrome, HIV/AIDS and lack of
12 immunizations are major causes of racial and ethnic health
13 disparities; and
14 WHEREAS, Prevention, early detection of disease and prompt
15 referral to quality health care are essential steps to reducing
16 these and other health disparities; and
17 WHEREAS, The public health community knows that all
1 individuals can make a difference not only in their own health
2 but in the health of others and that community norms regarding
3 medical visits and care are important factors influencing
4 community health; and
5 WHEREAS, The efforts of local communities working together
6 with partners and volunteers to improve the health status of all
7 citizens have been essential to promoting healthy behavior; and
8 WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human
9 Services has engaged in a national "Closing the Health Gap"
10 campaign aimed at encouraging individuals to live healthier
11 lives and to visit a health care professional; and
12 WHEREAS, The Secretary of Health and Human Services has
13 declared September 16, 2003, as "Take a Loved One to the Doctor
14 Day" to focus attention on health care for those persons most in
15 need; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate September 16, 2003, as
17 "Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day" in Pennsylvania.
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