RRH, URMC host event bringing awareness to Black maternal health

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Regional Health and the University of Rochester Medical Center collaborated to recognize the start of Black Maternal Health Week, and work to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

RRH and URMC hosted discussion and training for doulas, midwives, OBGYN’s and community members about the Black maternal health crisis on Thursday. According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

“It is outrageous, egregious, and wrong that we have this situation going on,” said midwife Jennie Joseph, a midwife at. “We have every procedure available to these women and yet they succumb. They’re dying from preventable deaths.”

The event included demonstrations of real-life scenarios where participants learned how to handle complications in labor and delivery.