Sunday, October 1, 2023
10/1/2023
Mississippi suffers disproportionately from many chronic diseases, ranking 12th in the nation from incidence of cancer. Each year, more than 13,000 Mississippians are diagnosed with cancer and about 6,000 die from cancer, making it the second leading cause of death in Mississippi. However, the number of new cancer cases can be reduced, and many cancer deaths can be prevented. Many preventive measures that could help delay the onset of these chronic illnesses are often overlooked. Theories vary as to why Mississippians either elect not to have or are not aware of preventive screenings that could reduce premature death and disabilities from cancer, in particular; low educational attainment coupled with limited access to health care, high poverty rates, and other social determinants can result in health disparities.The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (MS-BCCP) and the Mississippi Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (MCCCP), in response to the CDC RFA DP17-1701, propose to reduce breast and cervical cancer, other cancer morbidity and mortality rates through a collaborative approach.The goals and objectives of the MS- BCCP align with those of CDC, as one of the key steps in addressing health issues faced by women in Mississippi is to ensure adequate, quality health care related to breast and cervical cancer screenings services to uninsured and underinsured women at the income level below the 250% poverty level and to provide key evidence-based strategies to reduce structural barriers to screening within health systems.The MCCCP proposes to implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach to inform policy, systems and environmental change strategies to prevent and control cancer. This will be achieved in partnership with a number of organizations, both internal and external to the MSDH?s Office of Preventive Health, Chronic Disease Bureau. Primary prevention efforts will center on in creased access to healthy foods and physical activity. Access to quality cancer screenings will be address via the development and dissemination of educational information and resource guides and utilization of Community Health Workers to promote these screenings. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program will be targeted to cancer survivors in an effort to improve their health and well-being. The MCCCP will be revised to include all phases of cancer survivorship. Partners in federally qualified health care centers will integrate cancer needs into existing team-based initiatives targeting hypertension and diabetes. Health disparities will be addressed through a number of systems. Efforts to increase awareness at the community level and cultural competency training at the healthcare provider level will work synergistically to promote health equity.The Mississippi Cancer Registry (MS-MCR) as a component of the program will provide data for assessing the cancer burden and evaluation as it relates to cancer incidence; and data relating to stage of disease and first course of treatment for patients in the MS-BCCEDP. MCR personnel will continue active participation in the Mississippi Partnership for Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition and work as a partner with the state chronic disease program. With this combined effort and knowledge, the Mississippi State Department of Health strives to decrease the cancer incidence and mortality rates over the five years of the grant period.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
