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Douglas County proclaims October Black Maternal Health Month
Summary
The board unanimously approved a resolution recognizing October as Black Maternal Health Month and urged residents to raise awareness of racial disparities in maternal outcomes.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing October as Black Maternal Health Month and encouraging awareness and action to address disparities in maternal health outcomes.
Commissioner Rogers read the proclamation and moved for approval, citing national data on racial disparities in maternal mortality. "Whereas according to the Center for Disease Control, black women are 3 times more likely to die from a pregnancy related cause, and black infants are more than twice as likely not to survive," the proclamation states.
The resolution identifies multiple contributing factors, including variation in quality of care, chronic conditions, structural racism and implicit bias, and calls for a comprehensive approach to improve access to culturally relevant maternal health services. Commissioner Fahey thanked Commissioner Rogers and local advocacy groups for raising awareness of the issue.
A public commenter, Larry Storer of Omaha, said the wording should be reworded and submitted remarks for the record; the board recorded no further procedural action on that comment. The proclamation passed on a unanimous roll call vote, 7-0.
