African American mothers are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women.
Led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Black Maternal Health Week is celebrated April 11-17. It falls within April, which is also National Minority Health Month. Â
Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith says people shouldn't gamble with Covid-19 or their lives, reminding communities that vaccination remains the best protection as the pandemic continues.
Improving access to and the quality of sexual and reproductive health services and supports has the power to increase bodily autonomy for all people, including those whose autonomy has historically been restricted, particularly Black and Indigenous people. Yet as with COVID-19, access to these services and supports depends heavily on where a person lives, how much money they make, and the extent to which discrimination impedes their ability to act on their reproductive decisions.
Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW21) will take place this year from April 11-17, aimed at disseminating information and uplifting the voices of Black mother's who have suffered disproportionately due to systemic racism.
