What are you willing to do to save the lives of your neighbors and fellow community members? This was the call to action put out by Sequoia Kemp in her Guest Column written for the Daily Orange. The column talks about the many areas in which our society is failing women, and particularly Black women when it comes to Maternal Health. In the column she points out several solutions to the current situation, all of which are worth reading and exploring on their own. I urge everyone currently reading this article, to stop and read her column before continuing this one. 

As reported in the article, the maternal mortality rate in Onondaga County is 85% higher than the national average.The article also calls for a city-wide initiative to advance community-based doula care through Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center. I think this initiative should be county-wide & our county should join the conversation by immediately committing 5 million dollars to helping establish this initiative. 

The black maternal health crisis has many underlying factors, including systemic racism, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to healthcare services. While our county government may not have the power to address all of these issues, there are several steps we can take to improve the maternal health outcomes of Black women and therefore all women in our communities. 

Increase access to quality healthcare services: County government can work to ensure that Black women have access to quality healthcare services, including prenatal care, postpartum care, and mental health services. This can be achieved through funding and supporting community health clinics, providing transportation for women who live in areas without easy access to healthcare facilities, and expanding Medicaid coverage.

Increase the number of Black healthcare providers: Studies have shown that Black women have better health outcomes when they receive care from Black healthcare providers. We need to look at providing incentives to Black Providers in the same way we provide incentives for black and women owned businesses.

Address social determinants of health: Social determinants of health, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, and food insecurity, have a significant impact on maternal health outcomes. Onondaga County can work to address these issues by expanding our public transportation infrastructure, increasing quality affordable housing options, providing job training and education programs, and increasing access to healthy food options.

Support community-based programs: Community-based programs such as doula services, lactation support and midwifery programs, have been shown to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women. We can support these programs by providing funding and resources. We can support these programs by providing funding and resources in order to pay doulas fairly and build a strong, diverse, perinatal workforce in our county.

Implement anti-racism training: Implicit bias among healthcare providers is a significant contributor to the disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women. Our county government should mandate anti-racism training for all healthcare providers in Onondaga County to help them recognize and address their biases.

Overall, addressing the black maternal health crisis in Central New York will require a multifaceted approach that addresses the systemic issues that contribute to health disparities. The Onondaga County government can play a critical role in this effort by implementing policies and programs that increase access to quality healthcare services, address social determinants of health, and support community-based programs.