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Community Helps Hospital Surpass Goal of 2,000 Jars of Peanut Butter NATCHEZ, Miss. –March 28, 2025 – To help address hunger in our community, and in celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2, Merit Health Natchez donated 2.918 jars of peanut butter to the following local food bank distribution sites: Natchez First Assembly of God Kings Kabinet Food Pantry, Pilgrim Baptist Church Food Pantry, River Assembly Church Feed the Hungry Pantry and Staples Food Pantry through St. Mary’s Bas... ... Read More

NATCHEZ, MS – For the third year in a row, Merit Health Natchez chose a unique way to commemorate National Doctors’ Day and honor the providers who serve at the hospital. In lieu of gifts, Merit Health Natchez presented a check on March 25 for $3,000 to the Natchez Stewpot as a meaningful way to recognize and honor its medical staff. The first-ever Doctors’ Day was celebrated on March 30, 1933 in Winder, Georgia. Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, decided to set aside a day to honor phy... ... Read More

Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer Gives Best Chance of Survival Vicksburg, MS – The American College of Radiology now recommends women who are at average risk for breast cancer get screening mammograms annually starting at age 40 for women of average risk. The recommendations are in response to the increase in breast cancer diagnoses in younger women and high mortality rates in Black women. Here in Mississippi, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women – at more than d... ... Read More

Vicksburg, MS – Merit Health River Region kicked off its annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive benefitting StoreHouse Community Food Pantry and is inviting community members to participate in this effort to fight hunger in the local area. Peanut butter is a sought after item for food banks because of its high nutritional value and long shelf life. Yet, it is one of the least donated items. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive kicks off on March 3rd and will run through March 24th. “Merit Health River ... ... Read More

News that Harrison Ford withdrew from the 2025 Oscars ceremony due to a diagnosis of shingles has brought attention to this common, often painful, condition. Usually thought of as a childhood disease, the chickenpox can have lasting effects well into adulthood because the virus remains inactive in the body even after recovery. Years after you have had the chickenpox, the virus can reappear in the form of shingles. One in three Americans will experience shingles in their lifetime according to the Centers... ... Read More

NATCHEZ, MS. – March 4, 2025 – News that Harrison Ford withdrew from the 2025 Oscars ceremony due to a diagnosis of shingles has brought attention to this common, often painful, condition. Usually thought of as a childhood disease, chickenpox can have lasting effects well into adulthood because the virus remains inactive in the body even after recovery. Years after you have had the chickenpox, the virus can reappear in the form of shingles. One in three Americans will experience shingles in their lifeti... ... Read More

NATCHEZ, MS – March 3, 2025 – Today, Merit Health Natchez kicked off its annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive benefitting River Assembly Feed the Hungry, First Assembly of God and Pilgrim Baptist Church food pantries and is inviting community members to participate in this effort to fight hunger in the local area. Peanut butter is a sought after item for food banks because of its high nutritional value and long shelf life. Yet, it is one of the least donated items. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Driv... ... Read More

FLOWOOD, MS, February 24, 2025 – Today, Merit Health kicked off its annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive benefitting Mississippi Food Network, and is inviting community members to participate in this effort to fight hunger in Central Mississippi. Peanut butter is a sought after item for food banks because of its high nutritional value and long shelf life. Yet, it is one of the least donated items. The Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive kicks off on February 24 and will run through March 21. “Merit Heal... ... Read More

Small, consistent changes create healthier habits to last a lifetime HATTIESBURG, MS – The new year often reignites an interest in health and wellness – in a 2024 poll, 79% of respondents said their New Years’ resolutions involved health. While sweeping resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, there are small, simple steps that you can take every day to make a lasting improvement in your health. “Even small lifestyle changes can increase longevity, reduce the risk associated with chronic disease, impro... ... Read More

Small, consistent changes create healthier habits to last a lifetime The new year often reignites an interest in health and wellness – in a 2024 poll, 79% of respondents said their New Years’ resolutions involved health. While sweeping resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, there are small, simple steps that you can take every day to make a lasting improvement in your health. “Even small lifestyle changes can increase longevity, reduce the risk associated with chronic disease, improve mental health a... ... Read More