A series of meetings to address health care issues in southern and eastern Kentucky have come with announcements of grants to fund several programs.
On Wednesday, Morehead State was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to continue a dental education partnership program with the University of Kentucky.
U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers, who spearheaded the meetings this week with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tom Frieden. Rogers said poor oral health can lead to tooth decay and gum disease as well as other health conditions.
Also announced during the Shaping Our Appalachian Regional Health Impact Series were $1 million from the CDC for Kentucky to enhance its prescription drug monitoring program; a grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop the Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky; and $1.5 million to promote prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases.
