St. Barnabas Hospital panel meets to discuss Black maternal mortality rates
The panel, consisting of Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Dr. Janine Adjo and Dr. Vanessa Louis, met to discuss the statistics and solutions to address Black maternal mortality and overall maternal health.
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A forum was held at St. Barnabas Health and Wellness Center in Belmont focusing on an issue affecting Black women throughout the borough.
The panel, consisting of Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Dr. Janine Adjo and Dr. Vanessa Louis, met to discuss the statistics and solutions to address Black maternal mortality and overall maternal health.
New York City Department of Health statistics show that in 2020, there were 51 pregnancy associated deaths, with 16 of them in the Bronx and 23 being Black women.
According to the panel, care teams must represent the communities they serve and protect access to reproductive health care. Additionally, they must incorporate midwives and doulas as well as advocacy and cultural competency training for medical staff to address implicit bias, the panel said.
Borough President Gibson added that she is fighting for a birthing center to be established in the Bronx.
