Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Myrie Hold Maternal Health Meeting

New York State Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) convened a community meeting recently at SUNY Downstate Hospital to discuss the crisis of maternal mortality in Brooklyn and how to address it.

The rate of maternal mortality is on the rise in the U.S. and is highest among black women, who are 3.5 times as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth as white women. These health disparities are even more pronounced in certain areas of Brooklyn, many of which are in Sen. Myrie’s district, such as East Flatbush, which according to the NYC Dept. of Health, has one of the highest infant mortality rates in New York City.

“No woman should live in fear of receiving inadequate care during one of life’s most precious moments simply because she is black,” said Myrie. “There is no excuse for allowing women to die due to lack of care, lack of resources, and preventable complications. I am proud that the legislature has taken action to address this crisis, but there is much more work to do.” 

Read the full story in Kings County Politics.