The Mississippi State Department of Health has been granted $2,052,740 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve outcomes for women and children receiving care.
Announced by Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the funding was made available by the federal department’s maternal and child health services grant program.
Money allocated to the state health department will be distributed among programs that target the improvement of health for women and infants as well as children with special healthcare needs.
Last week, the Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee issued a report that maternal mortality is on the rise in the state — with 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths deemed preventable, and 92 percent having some level of opportunity to alter the death of expecting mothers.
The MSDH is expected to use the newly acquired funds to address maternal mortality rates in the Magnolia State and continue working toward solutions to the ongoing issue.
