2025 -- H 5154

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2025, TO BE "MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY"

IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Felix, Chippendale, Tanzi,
Cruz, Kislak, Casimiro, Diaz, and Stewart

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, January 23rd is recognized as Maternal Health Awareness Day, and was

established to educate citizens about the critical importance of maternal health and promising

maternal health initiatives. This year’s theme is “Know What’s at Stake”; and

     WHEREAS, Maternal health refers to women’s health and well-being during pregnancy,

childbirth, and postpartum (after childbirth) is integral to the health of our State, communities,

and families; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more

than 84 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, and severe maternal

morbidity regarding pregnancy-related complications lead to major short or long-term health

consequences; and

     WHEREAS, The rate of severe maternal morbidity among Rhode Island women

delivering in hospitals is lower than the national rate; however, the United States has the highest

rate among all wealthy nations; and

     WHEREAS, Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate of any racial or

ethnic group and although that number has decreased in recent years, there still exists a growing

concern due in great measure to health care becoming unobtainable for these mothers and others

in both rural and urban areas due to ongoing financial, staffing, and policy changes which have

caused an "Access in Crisis" across the country; and

     WHEREAS, All pregnant individuals should have access to comprehensive and timely

prenatal services across the healthcare continuum, and reducing prenatal health inequities through

policy and systems change can help improve opportunities for every Rhode Islander; and

     WHEREAS, To combat the maternal mortality rate, the State of Rhode Island has

engaged in ongoing efforts to systematically collect and comprehensively review maternal deaths

through the Pregnancy & Post-Partum Death Review Committee; and

     WHEREAS, In 2023, one third of Rhode Island’s births were delivered by cesarean

delivery which is now the most common surgery performed in the United States, and which is

often preventable; and

     WHEREAS, At least five percent of the babies born in Rhode Island are prenatally

exposed to substances like alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, stimulants, and opioids; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is collaborating with community organizations,

hospital and health systems and clinical collaborations including the Perinatal Neonatal Quality

Collaborative (PNQC) of Rhode Island, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) of

Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Prematurity Task Force to reduce maternal mortality and

severe morbidity through collaboration and implementation of evidence-based initiatives; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is committed to protecting the health and well-

being of pregnant people by continuing public awareness and understanding of health risks and

factors that contribute to maternal death, to improving public and professional awareness of the

issues related to maternal health and mortality, and promoting the various efforts to reduce

maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims January 23, 2025, to be "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode

Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Stacy Paterno, Executive Vice President,

Rhode Island Medical Society.

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