Concerned citizens met recently at a press conference at the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center on W. Northside Drive to seek support for President’s Obama Health Care Plan. Spokespersons rallied the cry, “It’s time to deliver.”
“It’s time for Mississippi and this country to deliver for its people,” said State Sen. John Horhn (District 26). “Twenty-two percent of our children are obese. Twenty nine percent of women haven’t had screening in three years. In Mississippi alone there are 450,000 people without health care insurance,” Horhn continued.
Horhn informed the crowd that Obama’s plan would remove hidden costs and taxes to save approximately $850 for Mississippians and prevent premiums from going up. It would provide health choice. It would provide affordable insurance for workers, even if they lose their jobs. The plan would put families in charge of their own coverage. The Senator contended that, despite one company dominating Mississippi market, “Mississippians ought to be able to get health care anywhere in the state.”
Mary Katherine Brown, president, MS Federation for Democratic Women, took another angle by saying, “It’s time to deliver for women and their children. In Mississippi, one out of every four persons receives Medicaid. But Medicaid does not cover many of the preventive health services.” She charged that mothers and their children are statistically disadvantaged and go without insurance.
Are therr disparities between the sexes when it comes to health care? “A 25-year-old woman is charged more than a 25-year-old man for the same coverage,” Brown argued. She quickly added that the people in Mississippi would have to change the system by adopting the Obama Health Care Plan.
Chief Executive Officer (Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center) Dr. Jasmine Chapman asserted that 93 percent of patients fall below affordable health care. “It doesn’t matter where you live, how old you are, or your sex, health care reform is needed. A patient cannot wait,” she hastened.
Breast cancer survivor Stephanie Parker-Weaver told her story. Indicating that she was 100 percent disabled, Parker-Weaver said to the crowd that she had 12 medicines to take daily to maintain life. “I had to medically retire at age 46. Social Security is the only income I have. Since I left the City of Jackson, I have to choose what bills I’m going to pay and I’m always behind just on the bare necessities.”
In closing her comments, Parker-Weaver directed the crowd into the chant, “It’s time to deliver, and the time is now.” This call-response ignited the crowd.
State Representative Mary Coleman was in attendance. She explained, “It’s important for the public to know because everybody needs health care and we (press conference participants) want them to know that we care and we’re calling our congressmen and senators to let them know that we are in support of the Obama Healthcare Plan.”
Mississippi State Director, Organizing for America, Tyrone C. Hendrix, said that there was a need to alert the public about health care reform. “There is particularly a need for women,” he claimed. “It’s so important that we contact our representatives and our senators to let our voices be heard, especially in a state like Mississippi.”
President Obama’s note to the nation stated, “Change this big will not happen because I ask for it. It can only come when the nation demands it. Congress knows where I stand. Now they need to hear from you. The heart of my plan is simple: bring stability and security to Americans who already have health insurance, guarantee affordable coverage for those who don’t, and rein in the cost of health care.”
See the President’s full plan at http://mybarackobama.com/SupportReform.
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