MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Hyde-Smith, Albritton, Butler, Clarke, Dawkins, Dearing, Frazier, Jackson (15th), Jackson (11th), Jordan, Little, Thomas, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE MAY AS OSTEOPOROSIS AWARENESS MONTH IN MISSISSIPPI AND TO ENCOURAGE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 41-93-1 THROUGH 41-93-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972.
WHEREAS, osteoporosis is a bone-thinning disease that is a major health concern; and
WHEREAS, osteoporosis is a "silent disease" that typically progresses without symptoms until fractures occur; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that some 77% of the approximately 400,000 Mississippi women over the age of 50 remain untreated and undiagnosed for osteoporosis; and
WHEREAS, osteoporosis is generally regarded as a preventable, but not reversible, disease; and
WHEREAS, early detection of osteoporosis among at-risk individuals is crucial to the prevention of the disease; and
WHEREAS, the 1994 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature expanded the state's role in women's health with the passage of Sections 41-93-1 through 41-93-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, enabling the State Department of Health to create a statewide program to promote public awareness about osteoporosis:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate May as Osteoporosis Awareness Month in Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Mississippi Legislature encourages the State Department of Health to use, but not be limited to, the following strategies toward the prevention, diagnosis, education and treatment of osteoporosis:
(1) Establish and coordinate an advisory panel on osteoporosis, which shall provide nongovernmental input regarding the osteoporosis prevention and treatment education programs provided for by Section 41-93-3 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. Membership of this panel should include, but not be limited to, persons with osteoporosis, women's health organizations, public health educators, osteoporosis experts, and providers of osteoporosis health care.
(2) The Department of Health is hereby requested to file a report, at least annually, setting forth all the department's osteoporosis-related activities for the previous year. The reports shall include, but not be limited to, the activities and recommendations of the advisory committee, the activities of the department on a monthly basis to accomplish the objectives contained in Section 41-93-1 et seq., and the number of Peripheral Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (PDEXA) screenings conducted by the department as a means of detecting and diagnosing this disease among Mississippi citizens. The report requested by this resolution shall be filed with the Chairman of the Public Health and Appropriations Committees of the State Senate and House of Representatives, and shall be available to the general public. The first of said reports is requested by December 1, 2003, with subsequent reports by the same date in each succeeding year thereafter.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Capitol Press Corps.