Sisters of Mercy add to Delta fleet

The Give Kids A Smile event provided an opportunity for the UMC School of Nursing to showcase two new additions to the Mercy Delta Express Project mobile medical/dental clinic that visited Ruleville Central Elementary School Feb. 4.

The Sisters of Mercy, Vicksburg, who donated the custom-built, state-of-the-art mobile medical and dental clinic to the Mercy Delta Express Project in 2003, gave an additional $35,000 to the school last summer. The money was used to purchase two new passenger vans to accompany the medical and dental clinic on its rounds throughout the Delta.

Nursing, dental hygiene and dentistry students traveled in the vans to Ruleville, where they joined five local dentists to host a dental health awareness fair in the school's gymnasium, screen approximately 400 students and place sealants on second graders who met specific criteria for placement.

Sister Patricia Parker of the Sisters of Mercy said the donation confirms her order's conviction to the Mercy Delta Express Project, an initiative of the School of Nursing. Supported by a multidisciplinary team of nurses, physicians, dentists, social workers, pharmacists, educators, policy makers and clergy, the project serves as a model for research-based community health programs in Mississippi's rural communities.

"Our intention was to help the Medical Center with travel expenses," said Parker, who helped distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste and other dental care items to Ruleville Central Elementary students. "We're very pleased with the commitment, dedication and compassion demonstrated by everyone involved with the Mercy Delta Express Project, and we're really inspired by the manner in which the Medical Center has carried out the project. We feel this is a service that meets the health care needs of underserved children in the Delta."

Dr. Peggy Hewlett, professor of nursing and Mercy Delta Express Project organizer, said the donation is indicative of the Sisters of Mercy's continued support of efforts to address health disparities in the state.

"One of the major challenges in supporting and maintaining a health care initiative 'away from home' is to provide transportation for the teams of faculty, staff and students," Hewlett said. "The Sisters of Mercy generously provided the funds for a new mini-van and a new 15-passenger van. We are grateful for their support and dedication to the nursing school and the people we serve."

Parker said she hopes the donation will help shape the careers of future doctors, dentists, nurses and nurse practitioners in the Mississippi Delta.

"We hope this project will inspire young health care professionals to make the decision to venture out to rural areas of the state to practice," she said.