Community Engagement: Mississippi Delta Health Initiative

1 The Mississippi Delta Health Initiative
Mississippi Delta is a rural 18-county area that is found in the north-west region of the state. The residents experience persistent poverty and also a higher proportion of chronic diseases and also the related risk factors. The initiative was founded by the Department of Health of the state, and it provides leadership and guidance in the Delta region to improve the health of the population through the use of ABCS. In this case, ABCS refers to the appropriate aspirin use, haemoglobin control, Cholesterol management and stop of smoking habits among the residents.[Cheryl, M., & Joanna, A. (2013). Reconsidering Community-Based Health Promotion: Promise]
The ABCS strategy helps reduce cardiovascular infections. The officers who carry out the initiative move from one health facility to the other where they carry out screenings for the above-mentioned infections. Before their arrival, the people are informed through the various forms of media about the presence of the presence of the officers in a given locality at a particular time. On the given day, the officers arrive at the place with their equipment, and they carry out screening services to the people who come out for the services. The screening services are usually offered for free. If one is found to have a health condition that might be a threat to their life, then they are advised by the officers on the proper medication. The patient pays the charges for medication, and the initiative does not cover the treatment cost for the patient. As mentioned earlier, what they only offer for free are the screening services.[Disease Prevention. (2015). Defining Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Rural Health Information Journal.]
An approximate number of 200 people are screened monthly through the program. By the use of this initiative, the initiative has raised awareness in the local community on how they should develop healthy eating habits to avoid cholesterol related problems and how they can control their haemoglobin. It has also educated the people to be alert about matters that pertain their health. If they realise that they are having health complications, they are encouraged to visit the health facilities.[Mary, A., & Jennifer, L. (2010). Community Engagement in Public Health. Public Health Division]
The other subsidiary program within the program is called The Delta Alliance for Congregational Health (DACH). It is a coalition of churches that has been established by the MDHC to recognise the opportunity that the church has in ministering not only a person's spiritual health but also their physical health as well. Its main goal is to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease. It creates a system in which the churches provide preventive screenings and counselling for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and smoking cessation. To achieve its objectives, they have partnered with various local community groups such as self-help groups and agricultural groups so that they can promote the health of the community. They visit the various places in the region and informing the people about the various chronic diseases and how they can be able to prevent them. The initiative carries out a regular assessment of the patients w...