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WHEREAS, 74% of all people living with HIV/AIDS in our region live in Allegheny County, making Pittsburgh the epicenter of HIV/AIDS in Southwestern PA; and,
WHEREAS, 2014 marks highest number of new HIV cases ever reported in Allegheny County, with increases in infection rates across all age groups totaling in a 13% increase in new reported HIV cases; and,
WHEREAS, to counter this epidemic a team of local health care service organizations and Public Health representatives have come together to form AIDS FREE PITTSBURGH, a collaborative which seeks to make a stand against this disturbing trend; and,
WHEREAS, the mission of this worthy effort is to both achieve an AIDS-free Allegheny county and to reduce the rate of new HIV infections by 75% by the year 2020; and,
WHEREAS, supplemental goals of this effort are to diagnose the undiagnosed early in the course of their disease, link to and engage HIV-infected persons in HIV care, achieve a 95% viral load suppression rate for patients receiving HIV care, reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS among-high risk groups, and to obtain the highest level of political support at the local and state level; and,
WHEREAS, as stewards of the public good, Pittsburgh City Council should make every possible effort to assist in the mission and work with our community partners to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our region and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, this Council encourages our partners in governance at both the commonwealth and federal level to lend their support to help us achieve an AIDS FREE PITTSBURGH by 2020; and,
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend and celebrate the various health services organizations who have come together to lead the AIDS FREE PITTSBURGH effort and pledges our partnership and support to their goals; and,
AND, NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the Will of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh that all ci...
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