NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney, Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas & 'His Branches' Community Health Center Announce Blood Pressure Cuff Program

(ROCHESTER, NY) - Today, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester), Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (D-Queens), and community health leaders announced an initiative to provide expectant mothers with blood pressure monitors. 

The monitors were purchased by the Lian S. Gravelle Center for Maternal Health and delivered to His Branches Community Health Center on Arnett Boulevard. 

As many as one in twelve pregnancies is affected by hypertension in its most dangerous form – preeclampsia. This condition is one of the leading preventable causes of maternal death. The Lian S. Gravelle Center for Maternal Health is committed to working towards reversing the alarming trend in maternal morbidity and mortality through safer health initiatives, patient and provider education, and collaborations with like-minded organizations and individuals.

Senator Cooney and Assembly Member Gonzalez-Rojas sponsored and passed “Lian’s Law” during the 2021 legislative session, authorizing the NYS Department of Health to provide information on preeclampsia, and begin educational outreach to raise awareness and try to prevent future fatalities. The legislation was signed into law last year. 

Senator Jeremy Cooney: 

The health disparities in Monroe County continue to be alarming, Black mothers are three times more likely to die, and twice as likely to have complicated births in Rochester. I was honored to join advocates and community health providers this afternoon to raise awareness, and launch an initiative designed to save lives. I thank His Branches and The Lian S. Gravelle Center for Maternal Health for their partnership and commitment to reversing these alarming trends here in Rochester, and across New York.”

Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas:

“I’m honored to join Senator Cooney today for the launch of the Lian S. Gravelle Center for Maternal Health. I’m excited that centers like this one will provide more outreach and education on preeclampsia. We must do everything we can to turn the tide on maternal mortality and morbidity and its disparate racial impacts in New York State. The implementation of “Lian’s Law”, which I sponsored in the Assembly and Senator Cooney sponsored in the Senate,  provides birthing New Yorkers and health care professionals with vital information about the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia and helps prevent more deaths caused by this serious condition. During this Black Maternal Health Week, I also urge legislators to pass my bill, A09102, which requires the office of mental health and department of health to conduct a study on the disparate racial impact of postpartum depression screening tests. Maternal health includes mental health. I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the full spectrum of New York’s maternal health crisis.”

Brian Gravelle, Founder, The Lian S. Gravelle Center for Maternal Health:

“The price of a mother’s death cannot be measured. The cost to our families and communities is astronomical, the grief seemingly insurmountable. We are committed to working towards improving outcomes in our community.”

# # #