M.O.M.S. tour addresses maternal health disparities in Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas – In a bid to raise awareness and solutions for maternal health disparities, the Maternal Outcomes Matter Showers (M.O.M.S.) recently made a stop in Little Rock, as part of its nationwide tour. Hosted at Philander Smith University, the event drew the attention of over 100 current and expectant parents who were keen on engaging with professionals and gaining valuable insights into maternal health.

Also check: New affordable homes for low-income families in Little Rock

District 80 State Representative, Denise Ennett, emphasized the community’s commitment, saying, “There are a lot of great groups here that are willing and able to help when it comes to anything during childbirth, post-partum or while you’re pregnant.”

Highlighting the broader goal of the tour, Dr. Que English, Director of the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, shared, “What we are doing is, we are connecting our pregnant and post-partum women to the village that they didn’t even know existed for them here.” This statement becomes particularly crucial considering the alarming maternal mortality rate in the U.S., which, as pointed out by Dr. English, is the highest among all developed nations. Arkansas’s own struggles with maternal health make its inclusion in the tour especially pertinent.

A key agenda of the tour is to offer access to a plethora of resources, ranging from Medicaid and maternal supplies to essential education about early parenting and childbirth assistance. Emphasizing the transformative role of midwives and doulas, Dr. English stated, “We recognize that even with the doulas and midwives, we’ve seen improved outcomes when they are connected with these services. We have a long way to go here in Arkansas, but what we can do is one day at a time, one step at a time is bringing resources to these women so they can experience a safe birth.”

However, it wasn’t just physical health that the tour underscored. With over 52% of maternal mortality being post-partum, M.O.M.S. placed a sharp focus on mental health resources, aiming to ensure comprehensive well-being for mothers. Dr. English passionately remarked, “I always say that as long as there’s breath there’s hope. And so I want the people of Arkansas and Little Rock to keep hope alive. and this is just one piece of the puzzle in improving maternal health outcomes but be connected. Be connected to your community members, be connected to those that are offering services and keep hope alive.”

For those who couldn’t make it to the event, tailored resource packets specific to Arkansas’s needs are available. The campaign to better maternal health outcomes continues, and M.O.M.S. is at the forefront of this vital mission.