To address the health disparities of minorities, a $1.1 million grant has reportedly been given to the Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University.

The College announced that the three-year grant has been given by the US department of Health and Human Services to 'diversify the nursing workforce', reports Pentagraph.

In response to the grant, Janet Krejci, dean of the nursing college said that she was "thrilled" to receive such a "large grant".

'Health disparities' refer to increased disease and decreased health care and outcomes among certain minority groups, which eventually results in unnecessary health care costs for everyone. Therefore, reducing health disparities is gaining nationwide attention of late.

This Nursing Workforce Diversity grant will allocate $370,000 each year for recruitment, retention and leadership development among under-represented groups in the field of nursing.

According to the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, nurses from minority backgrounds represent only 16.8 percent of the registered nurse workforce. To encourage students from minority backgrounds to take up nursing, the grant will play a key role.

Mennonite has expressed its intention to use the money to partner with middle schools to get minority children interested in nursing, to start future nurses' clubs among high school students, for a pre-admission program for new college students and for stipends and scholarships to support underrepresented groups in their college education.