NATCHEZ — The Humana Foundation formally presented a $250,000 grant to the City of Natchez Wednesday.

The Humana Foundation as part of a partnership with the Clinton Health Matters Initiative funded the one-time grant.

Humana’s Gulf States Medicare Program President April Golenor represent the foundation aat the ceremony.

Golenor said Humana’s goal is to help improve the health of communities it serves by 20 percent by 2020.

“While that may sound lofty, there are several ways to achieve that, especially here in Adams County,” Golenor said.

Adams County was chosen, foundation officials said, because of its high rates of obesity and obesity-induced conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and poor birth outcomes.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown, who accepted the grant on behalf of the city, said heart health had become a more serious issue to him after suffering from stroke several months ago.

“The thing I’ve learned is much of what I’ve been through is preventable,” Brown said. “I feel so fortunate that Natchez was selected in my term as mayor to demonstrate what we can do as a community.”

The charitable grant of $250,000 is being used to implement the Adams County Diabetes and Heart Disease Intervention Program, which will focus on three core programs: a diabetes and heart disease prevention program, the million hearts program and healthy moms, healthy babies.

The diabetes and heart disease prevention program coordinator Larry Andrews said the program, which offers classes in healthy eating and exercise as well as diabetes and heart disease screenings, is already in progress.

“Feb. 6 was our first screening in diabetes program, and was scheduled for 7 a.m.,” Andrews said. “And people were there, lined up, earlier than that. That spoke volumes. They are serious about their health, and they want to make a change.”

Andrews said the 50 people who are currently enrolled in the program have already seen changes in their weight and risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Demetric V. Felder is the local coordinator of the million hearts program, whose nationwide mission is to prevent 1 million heart attacks or strokes by 2017.

Felder said the program is focused on public education on the ABCs of heart health: aspirin, blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking.

The healthy moms, healthy babies program is managed by the Clinton Health Matters Initiative in a partnership with Square Roots, an organization committed to the health of mothers and babies.

The healthy moms, healthy babies program currently hosts 19 mothers, who work with four coaches and doulas on everything from proper maternal nutrition and weight during pregnancy to help with breastfeeding.

Square Roots program coordinator Neha Dubli extended her gratitude to all the partners in the program.

“We want to bring all the resources we have here and have everyone be part of this conversation,” Dubli said. “(We want to) set that precedent and roadmap for the rest of the nation to follow.”