Black Maternal Health Week 2021 Achieves Historic White House Recognition
“This week is Black Maternal Health Week, and make no mistake, Black women in our country are facing a maternal health crisis. Black women are two to three times more likely to die in connection with childbirth than other women. We know the primary reasons why systemic racial inequities and implicit bias,” said Vice President Kamala Harris at a White House Roundtable she hosted with Ambassador Susan Rice in honor of Black Maternal Health Week. The event was the first event of its kind at the White House Black women who have experienced loss and complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum were invited to share their experiences and their work in Black maternal health advocacy and research.
Having a baby should be one of the most joyful times in a person’s life.
But records show that Black women, and women of color, are much more likely to die due to childbirth-related complications than white women, or to suffer from medical complications.
In an effort to combat maternal morbidity, the Massachusetts legislature recently passed a bill creating a maternal health commission, which received Gov. Charlie Baker’s approval in mid-January. The new commission is tasked with finding ways to eliminate or reduce racial disparities when it comes to maternal health.
“Even with the best institutions in the world right here in the Commonwealth, maternal mortality is still a public health crisis that impacts all women, but particularly Black women who die at twice the rate of white women in Massachusetts,” state Sen. Liz Miranda, who represents parts of Dorchester and Roxbury, said in a press release from Senate President Karen Spilka when the bill cleared the legislature.
âThis is a disparity:â Black Maternal Health week highlights disparities, proposed solutions
Black Maternal Health week highlights disparities By Courtney Cole | April 16, 2021 at 9:47 PM EDT - Updated April 16 at 9:49 PM
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - For many mothers, welcoming their baby into the world is an exciting time, but disproportionate maternal mortality and morbidity rates make that excitement difficult.
Aignee Doyle and her husband Daquan are less than two months away from welcoming their baby girl Nova into the world.
âIâm very excited about decorating her room. Iâm someone who organizes, I love to organize and then just that unconditional love from my child, Iâm very excited for that,â Doyle said.
Legislators in the North Carolina General Assembly plan to pass a collection of bills aimed at tackling the Black maternal health crisis in the state and addressing the gaps in reproductive healthcare during the pandemic.
The NC Momnibus Act was introduced in the state legislature April 6 and comprises multiple bills designed to confront the factors that contribute to disparities in maternal healthcare.
Following the example of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 that was introduced in Congress by Reps. Alma Adams, D-N.C. and Lauren Underwood, D-Ill. in February, North Carolina s omnibus bill will complement the federal efforts to improve maternal health and treatment for Black women.
UofL Health marks Black Maternal Health Week with series of events wlky.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wlky.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.