Res. No. 243
Resolution recognizing April as Minority Cancer Awareness Month in the City of New York.
By Council Members Perkins, Barron, Boyland, James, Liu, Martinez, Nelson, Quinn, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart, Reed, Vann, Brewer, Rivera, Gennaro and Comrie
Whereas, The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) report that minority groups receive inequitable health care, resulting in poorer health outcomes, such as higher rates of cancer; and
Whereas, For example, according to the CDC, African Americans are more likely to develop cancer than persons of any other racial or ethnic group; and
Whereas, Furthermore, the CDC finds that American Indian and Alaska Natives have the poorest survival rate of all cancers combined in comparison with all other racial and ethnic groups; and
Whereas, Additionally, according to the CDC, Hispanics experience higher rates of certain types of cancer, with Hispanic women having the highest incidence of cervical cancer and Hispanic men having the third highest incidence of prostate cancer; and
Whereas, Moreover, according to the CDC, Asian and Pacific Islanders experience higher death rates of liver and stomach cancer; and
Whereas, The CDC notes that certain risk factors that lead to higher cancer rates are more prevalent in minority communities, such as obesity rates among African American and Mexican American women, high smoking rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives and the higher likelihood of Hispanics and Pacific Islanders to live in areas that fail to meet air quality standards; and
Whereas, The ACS states that some minority groups within the U.S. are less likely to get lifesaving early detection tests and several populations encounter barriers to access, information and support options; and
Whereas, Persons with health insurance are more likely to have received appropriate preventive care, yet many minorities lack health insurance, according to the CDC; and
Whereas, According to the NCI, minorities are less likely to have access to a regular doctor and have greater difficulty communicating their health conditions because of language and cultural barriers; and
Whereas, Awareness of the disparities of cancer rates among minority groups is necessary to increase the chance of reversing such trends; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes April as Minority Cancer Awareness Month in the City of New York.
LS# 686
CR
3/18/04