Mississippi Health Project

Sis, do you know about the groundbreaking Mississippi Health Project?

The Mississippi Health Project was initiated in 1934 by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, under 8th International President Ida L. Jackson's leadership as part of the summer schooling for rural teachers initiative. This project emerged as a beacon of hope for the African American community in the Mississippi Delta, a region plagued by a dire lack of access to proper healthcare during the Great Depression and amidst the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South.

With Dr. Dorothy Ferebee at the helm, alongside a dedicated corps of sorority members that included doctors and nurses, AKA embarked on this groundbreaking public health mission to address the critical healthcare needs of the community. They set up mobile clinics that traveled across the Delta, providing immunizations, health screenings, and education on nutrition and hygiene, to tackle the social determinants of health affecting African American children and adults at that time.

In 2021, embodying the same spirit of service and commitment to health equity, AKA launched the Mississippi Health Project II, addressing contemporary health challenges such as COVID-19, and breast cancer. This initiative honored the legacy of the original MHP and underscored the enduring impact of women's leadership.

As we celebrate the last day of Women's History Month, the story of the Mississippi Health Project and its sequel vividly illustrate how women, through service and advocacy, can profoundly influence public health policy and the well-being of underserved communities.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Hospital Nurse Case Managers salute you!

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