America is full of the living dead — and Mississippi is ground zero.

Millions of our fellow Americans are essentially living as if they were walking dead. No, it’s not the premise of the latest AMC apocalypse drama or a summer blockbuster — it's the harsh reality for too many individuals and communities. They lack health insurance and, as a result, go undiagnosed. Untreated conditions manifest as silent killers.

The stark reality is that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, access to primary health care remains a privilege for the well-moneyed few rather than a fundamental right for all.