MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippians will represent the nation’s rural population when they provide health-care opinions in upcoming listening sessions throughout the state.

Established by an act of Congress in 2003, the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group is initiating a public debate to improve medical services nationwide. The goal is to provide every American with quality, affordable health care.

“Mississippi will be the rural voice for the nation,” said Rachel Welborn, community health coordinator with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service. “We need representatives from all walks of life to make time in their schedules to attend one of these meetings and express their opinions.”

MSU’s Extension Service is facilitating and assisting in the promotion of the meetings taking place in the state. Other meetings are taking place in urban settings across the United States between January and April.

All meetings are free, but registration is required. The first meeting in Mississippi will take place at the Jackson Medical Mall from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 22. To register, call (601) 982-0673 or go through the Web site at http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/register/. The mall is located in the capitol city at 350 West Woodrow Wilson Dr.

Some additional locations will host separate sessions to allow more participation. Other locations, dates, times and contact numbers for registration include:

• Starkville -- March 21 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and again from 6 - 9 p.m. at MSU’s Bost Extension Center; contact (662) 325-6640
• Verona/Tupelo -- March 27 from 1 - 5 p.m. and again from 6 - 9 p.m. at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center; contact (662) 566-2201
• Wesson -- March 29 from 1 - 5 p.m. at the Thames Conference Center at Copiah-Lincoln Community College; contact (601) 892-1809 or (601) 835-3460
• Hattiesburg -- March 30 from 1 - 5 p.m. and again from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Building; contact (601) 545-6083
• Clarksdale -- April 11 from 1 - 5 p.m. and again from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Clarksdale Station Depot; contact (662) 624-4292
• Greenville -- April 18 from 1 - 5 p.m. and again from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Delta Regional Learning Pavilion; contact (662) 822-0220
• Newton -- April 20 from 1 - 5 p.m. at the Newton Regional Hospital; contact (601) 683-0367

The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, authorized by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, is charged with listening to the views of Americans and developing recommendations for the President and Congress. The Working Group consists of 15 members including Mississippian Dr. Aaron Shirley, an associate professor in pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

For more information on the meetings, contact Welborn at (662) 325-4043 or by e-mail at rachelw@ext.msstate.edu.