SLOGAN
“Helping Fight Health Disparities” – MHCMC is committed to fighting minority health disparities (meaning that minorities are suffering at a disproportionate rate, in regard to health conditions, than non-minorities) in Marion County through education and prevention services based on health conditions that primarily affect minorities.
MISSION
The Coalition strives to empower citizens to take a proactive approach to improve the quality of life and reduce existing health disparities and deficiencies.
HISTORY
The Minority Health Coalition of Marion County (MHCMC), established in 1986, is a 501c3 non-profit organization of concerned citizens, health professionals, and advocates determined to impact the health status of at risk minorities in Marion County.
MHCMC is an incremental part of a statewide network of local minority health coalitions established to promote healthy lifestyles through advocacy, disease prevention, community awareness, referral information/resources, community outreach, community self reliance, and program services.
TARGET AREAS
The MHCMC addresses the health needs of the community in relation to the ten leading causes of death for minorities in Marion County, which include:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Homicide
- Accidents
- COPD
- Kidney Disease
- Infant Mortality
- Suicide
Some of the other principal conditions affecting minorities include Syphilis, and HIV/AIDS.
TARGET POPULATION
MHCMC target population includes African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Pacific-Islanders, Native Americans and Multi-Racial persons.
STATISTICS
According to the 2004 census data for Marion County, 25.6%of the population is African American, 5.5% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, and 0.3% Native American. The Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander groups were too minute to be reported on the census data. The 2000 census data also showed a 294% growth, since 1990, in the Hispanic population.
Currently, these minority groups continue to suffer more than Caucasians in various diseases, poverty, limited education, and limited resources which are ultimately the cause of increased rates in morbidity and mortality in their communities.
According to Health and Hospital Corp. Datamart, www.hhcdatamart.com, African-Americans in 2004, ages 45-64, accounted for 23% of the deaths per population from heart disease and Caucasian-Americans in 2004, ages 45-64, accounted for 13% of the deaths per population from heart disease.
This statistic is just an example of how many minority groups are surpassing Caucasians in relationship to certain diseases. This is the reason the MHCMC programs are so relevant, because they have continued to rise in recent years.