S*0913 Concurrent Resolution, By N.W. Smith
 A Concurrent Resolution to designate June 10-16, 1991, as "Pediatric Aids
 Awareness Week" and to request the Governor to call upon the people of this
 State to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

   04/23/91  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-235
   04/23/91  House  Introduced HJ-235
   04/23/91  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-235
   05/08/91  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-42
   05/16/91  House  Adopted, returned to Senate with concurrence HJ-35

May 8, 1991

S. 913

S. Printed 5/8/91--H.

Read the first time April 23, 1991.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 913), to designate June 10-16, 1991, as "Pediatric Aids Awareness Week", etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

SAMUEL R. FOSTER, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO DESIGNATE JUNE 10-16, 1991, AS "PEDIATRIC AIDS AWARENESS WEEK" AND TO REQUEST THE GOVERNOR TO CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE TO OBSERVE THE WEEK WITH APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES AND ACTIVITIES.

Whereas, more than 157,525 individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, and 98,530 have died from the disease; and

Whereas, the Public Health Service has estimated that there will be 365,000 cases of AIDS by the end of 1992 and that there are currently between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 persons in the United States infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, commonly known as HIV, which causes AIDS; and

Whereas, heterosexual AIDS is not a myth as evidenced by the fact that a proportion of females with AIDS continues to rise, as does the number of pediatric AIDS cases of children infected perinatally; and

Whereas, pediatric AIDS refers to AIDS patients under the age of thirteen years at the time of being diagnosed with the disease; and

Whereas, the Center of Disease Control has reported 2,734 cases of pediatric AIDS in the United States resulting in 1,423 deaths as of November 1990; and

Whereas, approximately seventy-five percent of teenagers in the United States have had sexual intercourse by the age of 19; and

Whereas, among the 25,000,000 adolescents between the ages of thirteen and nineteen years there are subgroups who either have intercourse at an earlier age, or whose patterns of sexual behavior put them at risk of becoming infected with HIV; and

Whereas, HIV-infected women can transmit the virus to their infants during pregnancy or at birth; and

Whereas, more than eighty percent of children with AIDS have a parent with, or at risk for, HIV infection; and

Whereas, seventy percent of women who are HIV-infected and seventy-eight percent of children with pediatric AIDS are African-American or Latino, many of whom have experienced social and economic discrimination; and

Whereas, in South Carolina, a total of 1,277 AIDS cases were reported from January 1, 1981, through February 28, 1991, with 771 of those resulting in death. Four thousand six hundred eighty-five HIV infections have been reported from May 1, 1985, through February 28, 1991; and

Whereas, as many as 204 AIDS and 710 HIV cases have been reported in Charleston County, 94 AIDS and 403 HIV cases in Greenville County, 199 AIDS and 811 HIV cases in Richland County, and as many as 35 AIDS and 214 HIV cases reported in Spartanburg County; and

Whereas, of the 1,277 AIDS cases reported in South Carolina, 23 AIDS and 66 HIV cases represent children under the age of 13; and

Whereas, the number of cases reported in South Carolina for AIDS has grown from as few as 10 in 1982, to as many as 343 in 1989, and 267 in 1990. HIV infections grew from 241 in 1985, to as many as 1,200 in 1990; and

Whereas, schools across the nation continue to discriminate against AIDS and HIV-infected children and their families; and

Whereas, there are increasing numbers of HIV-infected children, and it is important that the people of South Carolina diligently seek preventive measures and better solutions to care for HIV-infected pregnant women, including helping them gain access to new delaying and preventative therapies to allow time for biomedical progress; and

Whereas, early intervention and educational resources must be made available to all citizens, especially adolescents, women who are drug abusers, and other high-risk groups to make them more aware of AIDS and the risks associated with engaging in unprotected sexual activity; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Health and Human Services Finance Commission and the South Carolina Department of Health should work with appropriate state officials to help design optimal care packages needed for children with AIDS or HIV infections; and

Whereas, South Carolina and its political subdivisions should recognize relatives as an appropriate source of foster care for children with AIDS whose parents can no longer care for them, subject to the same review and afforded the same benefits as other foster parents. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly designate June 10-16, 1991, as "Pediatric AIDS Awareness Week" and request the Governor to call upon the people of this State to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.