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Founded in 2001, the Delta
Health Alliance is a partnership founded by Delta State University,
Mississippi State University, Mississippi Valley State University,
University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Delta Council. The
primary purpose of the DHA is to coordinate and provide oversight for
community-based programs that address critical healthcare and wellness
gaps in the Delta. The DHA strives to accomplish this by focusing
on:
- Increasing access to healthcare
- Improving health education
- Conducting health research
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QUICK FACTS ABOUT
THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA:
- MS is the 4th most rural state in the
nation
- The Delta is among the poorest areas
in the U.S. (census)
- Almost 60% of the total population in
the Delta consists of African Americans who are vulnerable to our
nation’s existing racial and ethnic health disparities, compared to 36%
of the total state population, and 12% of the total national population
- Without the 18 county core Delta
region (excluding DeSoto County), Mississippi would rank average or
near average in almost all major health indicators (ranking would
improve from 25-32)
RESPONSE
OF DHA TO THE NEEDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
In order to respond
effectively to the health needs of the Mississippi Delta, the DHA has
designed a comprehensive plan for addressing those issues in a
coordinated, systematic manner. Components of this plan include:
- Initiatives that address diabetes and
obesity
- Initiatives that address the nursing
shortage by increasing the recruitment of nursing students and
retention of nurses
- A series of assessments that,
together, will yield a comprehensive “State-of-the-Health” report of
the Mississippi Delta region
The partner universities to provide:
- Leadership
- Expertise
- Direction for projects
- Proposal development
The Delta Council to provide:
- Services as fiscal agent
- Assistance with funding
- Assistance in the development of
policy and procedures
- Promotion of networking
opportunities
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