Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and Its War on Poverty

Name: Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and Its War on Poverty
Price: 33.31 USD
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4.8 of 5 Stars: History - Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and Its War on Poverty

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Book Synopsis: Out in the Rural is the unlikely story of the Tufts-Delta Health Center, which in 1966 opened in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, to become the first rural community health center in the United States. Its goal was simple: to provide health care and outreach to the region's thousands of rural poor, most of them black sharecroppers who had lived without any medical resources for generations.

In Out in the Rural, historian Thomas J. Ward explores the health center's story alongside the remarkable life of its founder, Dr. H. Jack Geiger. A former teenage runaway, through a serendipitous turn of events he was befriended and taken in by the actor and Harlem Renaissance icon Canada Lee. Lee would later loan Geiger money for college, and after stints as a journalist and Merchant Marine, Geiger attended medical school and became a physician.

Geiger's personal history brings a profound human element to what was accomplished deep in the Mississippi Delta. In addition to providing medical care, the staff of the Tufts-Delta Health Center worked upstream to address the fundamental determinants of health-factors such as education, poverty, nutrition, and the environment-and ask the question, "What does it take to stay healthy?"

Equal parts social history and personal history, Out in the Rural is a story of both community health and of a stranger's kindness and determination to bring health care to areas out of reach.

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Discover the remarkable story of the Tufts-Delta Health Center with Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and Its War on Poverty. This groundbreaking book takes you on a journey to Mound Bayou, Mississippi, where the first rural community health center in the United States was born. Designed specifically to cater to the needs of the rural poor, most of whom were black sharecroppers with no access to medical resources, this center aimed to provide much-needed health care and outreach.

Written by historian Thomas J. Ward, Out in the Rural beautifully weaves together the history of the health center with the extraordinary life of its founder, Dr. H. Jack Geiger. Geiger's personal journey, from a teenage runaway to a renowned physician, adds a profound human element to the center's mission. Supported by actor and Harlem Renaissance icon Canada Lee, Geiger overcame adversity and dedicated himself to bringing vital medical services to underserved communities.

Out in the Rural goes beyond conventional medical care by addressing the underlying determinants of health like education, poverty, nutrition, and the environment. The dedicated staff at the Tufts-Delta Health Center took a holistic approach, asking the vital question: "What does it take to stay healthy?" This powerful blend of social history and personal narrative sheds light on the transformative impact of community health initiatives.

Immerse yourself in this compelling story today. Learn how one man's kindness and determination turned the tide of health care in the Mississippi Delta. Out in the Rural is a testament to the resilience of communities and the ability to make a difference. Take the first step towards understanding the power of community health by exploring this remarkable book.

Ready to embark on a journey through history and witness the triumph of community health? Experience the transformative power of Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center and Its War on Poverty. Get your copy now.

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