Quitman County Hospital Reopening & Ribbon Cutting

(Washington D.C.) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson announced the reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Quitman County Hospital on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. in Marks, Mississippi. Closed on October 31, 2016, the Quitman County Hospital was the largest employer in the area. Without employment and healthcare, despondency grew within the community. Healthcare situations worsened due to the length of time it took to receive emergency medical assistance and healthcare services. Residents were forced to drive a minimum of 30-minutes to receive medical attention.

On September 8, 2021, the Quitman County Board of Supervisors voted to reopen the hospital, and they were successful in their efforts. With the county's resolve to reopen, a partnership was created with nearby Panola Medical Center. The hospital will offer much needed service to the community. It will have the capacity to provide emergency care as well as beds for acute care patients, including those with Covid-19.

"The Quitman County Hospital closed because of Governor Reeves unwillingness to expand Medicaid," said Congressman Thompson. "The Governor shouldn't turn down federal dollars that will give Mississippians the same healthcare coverage that he also enjoys."

Marks, a small rural town with less than 2,000 residents, is the county seat of Quitman County. Marks served as the starting point for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Poor People's Campaign in 1968, an effort to gain economic justice for those who suffered from poverty. Due to its national civil rights history, Quitman County is designated as part of the Mississippi Freedom Trail.

"It's a miracle," said Manuel Killebrew, President of the Quitman County Board of Supervisors. "We've been fighting for 5 years to reopen the hospital. The people really need it, and I am truly grateful for all who helped us to get this done."

Quitman County is located in the Mississippi Delta. A rural underserved county with the racial makeup of 27.3% White, 70.9% Black, and 1.8% other. A poverty rate of 35.6% making it one of the poorest counties in the country. The 2020 Census data shows that the population within the county decreased from 8,223 to 6,792; the largest percentage of population decrease in the State of Mississippi.

"I believe the reopening of the county's critical access hospital is a sign of hope for this small rural community. With the hospital doors now open, the time to transport patients is greatly reduced. I applaud the local stakeholders and residents for their tenacious spirit and can-do attitude," stated Velma Wilson, Quitman County's Economic Development Director.