Black Maternal Health Week Feature

Black Maternal Health Week takes place every year from April 11 –17. The month of April is recognized in the United States as National Minority Health Month – a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities.

Infant Mortality for the African-American community is a pressing health disparity. The rate of death for black babies before their first birthday is twice the rate of white babies and greatly outpaces the national average. For some communities these deaths can seem like a normal part of life, but they are strong indicators of the health of the community. In 2010 in collaboration with the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Tonya Lewis Lee (Mother, Health Advocate, Movita Organics Founder) produced this 35 minute documentary “Crisis in the Crib- Saving Our Nation’s Babies” filmed between Memphis and Atlanta.

The rate of death for black babies before their first birthday is twice the rate of white babies and greatly outpaces the national average.

Want to learn more and support this cause?
March of Dimes
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