MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Williamson, Hyde-Smith, Dawkins, Harden, Carlton

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR AND ALL STATE HEALTH-RELATED AGENCIES TO SERVE THE HEALTH NEEDS OF WOMEN IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, for many years, the topic of women's health has primarily dealt with reproductive health, and only recently has the focus expanded to encompass all aspects of wellness and disease, including prevention and treatment; and

WHEREAS, for too long, public health policy in the United States has failed to recognize the unique nature of women's health in contrast to men's health, which has resulted in the health of women being neglected; and

WHEREAS, while many people think of cardiovascular disease as a man's disease, more women than men have died as a result of cardiovascular disease every year since 1984, with heart disease being the leading cause of death in women in the United States; and

WHEREAS, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from clinical depression; more than eleven million American women suffer from clinical depression every year; and

WHEREAS, cancer is the second leading cause of death in American women who suffer from many different types of the disease; the incidence and mortality rate for many of these cancers are higher in women compared with men, with many cancer proving to be fatal; and

WHEREAS, results from the National Health Interview Survey showed that self-reported cases of women who suffer from asthma increased an astonishing 82% from 1982 to 1992, compared with a 29% increase for men and not only is the self-reported incidence increasing at a faster rate, but the rate of hospitalizations is also higher for women than men in most age groups; and

WHEREAS, schizophrenia occurs equally in women and men, but the onset of the illness generally occurs at a later age for women than for men, the result of which is that the disease has a greater impact on women with more developed families and careers; and

WHEREAS, osteoporosis is the loss of bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, primarily among women, leading to enhanced bone fragility and an increase in the risk of fracture, and this loss can also be extensive over a woman's lifetime; and

WHEREAS, it is known that activities which focus on wellness and prevention are two important elements to better health and yet women are not taking advantage of these opportunities to improve their health; and

WHEREAS, until very recently, women were significantly underrepresented in clinical trials for drugs, due in large part to concerns about the impact of drugs on their reproductive health, particularly on fetal health in pregnancies that might begin during trials; however, it is now recognized that results from male-only trials do not equally apply to women or provide data on effective treatments that are important to women:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, That we urge and request the Honorable Ronnie Musgrove, Governor of the State of Mississippi, to continue to make women's health a priority in this state, and encourage all state health programs, including those administered by the State Department of Health, the Division of Medicaid, the Office of Mental Health, the State Health Insurance Management Board, the Mississippi Insurance Department and the Department of Finance and Administration to diligently seek to serve the health needs of Mississippi women, and to aggressively educate them of their own unique health needs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That enrolled copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, and all department heads noted above.