HR0296 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0296 LRB095 11861 KXB 35072 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The South African delegation will be arriving in Illinois on April 12, 2007, as the fourth leg of the sister-state relationship with Northern Cape Province, South Africa, and the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The delegation will consist of South African Consul General Yusuf Omar, Dr. Dion Theys, the Director of the Department of Public Health for Northern Cape Province, Ms. Nomathembi Mazobiko, the Infectious Disease Director, and Ms. Phillis Baitsiwe, the Tuberculosis coordinator; they will be in Washington D.C. from April 8-12; they will arrive in Chicago on the afternoon of April 12th; and on April 18, Consul General Yusuf Omar will address the Illinois House of Representatives in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, They depart for South Africa on April 20th; this project is an extension of the BASUAH project launched by the Governor in September, 2005; these exchanges have been very beneficial, bringing great benefits to both partners; and

WHEREAS, The South African Delegation's visit to the State of Illinois represents the fourth leg of an ongoing sister-state process, with the Health Department from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa and the State of Illinois exchanging ideas, interventions, and strategies for addressing HIV/AIDS in both environments; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has provided training and technical assistance, while the Northern Cape has assisted the State of Illinois in understanding how to improve their relationships with businesses and manufacturers employing large numbers of workers; and

WHEREAS, The exchange between the Province and the State of Illinois has provided both partners the opportunity to share cultural ideas, understand each others values, and work to understand how these elements contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, We sincerely appreciate the work that has been done over the last two years and especially appreciate the spirit of cooperation between the two partners; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we welcome the South African Delegation from Northern Cape Province, South Africa to the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the delegation from Northern Cape Province, South Africa as a symbol of our respect.