Mississippi Health Department fires preventive health and health equity employees

Mississippi’s Health Department fired employees working on preventive health and health equity issues, people familiar with the personnel decision told Mississippi Today.

An employee who was terminated Wednesday spoke to Mississippi Today on condition of anonymity because of concerns about repercussions in future job searches. The former employee said they were one of about 10 people laid off from jobs dealing with preventive health and elimination of health disparities.

The Health Department downsized what it had called the “Offices of Preventive Health and Health Equity” partially in response to issues outlined in a Sept. 22 report published by the Office of State Auditor Shad White, according to a person outside the department who was briefed on the firings and spoke to Mississippi To