During his visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock emphasized the urgent need to address maternal health disparities in the United States. President Joe Biden’s budget proposal includes a significant funding increase for the Atlanta-based facility, with a focus on programs for violence prevention and immunization.
While touring the emergency operations center and the insectary, where research on mosquitos is conducted, Warnock’s main focus was discussing the CDC’s efforts in maternal health. The agency’s budget request includes $118 million for programs addressing maternal and infant health, reflecting a $10 million increase from last year.
Warnock expressed concern about the high maternal mortality rates in the United States, particularly among Black women. Last year, a report showed a 20% increase in maternal deaths in Georgia, many of which were deemed preventable. Despite improvements in the national maternal mortality rate, racial disparities persist, with Black women dying at higher rates than white women.
Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer, highlighted the agency’s work with hospitals to improve perinatal care through quality collaboratives. She emphasized the importance of expanding maternal and infant health programs to reach more people, particularly in the South where maternal mortality rates are especially high.
The senator stressed that despite improvements in income and insurance coverage among Black women, alarming rates persist compared to other wealthy nations. He emphasized that it is intolerable that Black women continue to die at higher rates than white women due to lack of access to healthcare services or systemic racism within healthcare systems. Warnock’s visit underscored the importance of prioritizing maternal health and increasing funding for programs that aim to reduce maternal mortality rates nationwide.
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