Delaware County Recognizes Black Maternal Health Week and Minority Health Month
Released: April 6, 2023
During the April 5 public meeting, County Council recognized April as Minority Health Month and April 11-17 as Black Maternal Health Week.
During April, we recognize disparities in maternal health and minority health that exist in the Commonwealth and across our county which is unacceptable. Every Delaware County resident deserves to have access to quality healthcare and support. However, too many people of color face barriers in accessing the care they need.
“As a woman of color and a mother to three young daughters- these are causes near and dear to my heart. There is no greater priority than protecting the health and safety of all residents and ensuring we have high-quality and equitable healthcare” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor
In Delaware County, Black and Brown women are three times more likely to die during childbirth compared to White women. And research also shows that Black women are at significantly higher risk for severe maternal morbidity and also have higher rates of admission to the intensive care unit during delivery compared to White women. There are clear racial disparities in maternal and infant health and it’s critical that we work to raise awareness and create change.
The challenges we face are also compounded by the fact that we recently lost one of our birthing hospitals- Delaware County Memorial hospital- which serves a large population- many of which are low-income and English is not their first language.
As part of the initiative to raise awareness in the community about these health disparities, County Council and the Delaware County Health Department are hosting a second screening of “Aftershock”, a documentary film that examines the maternal health crisis in America. The public is invited to this screening on Wednesday, April 12 from 4p.m. to 7p.m. at Delaware County Community College. Click link to register https://delcofoundation.org/aftershock-film-screening/
