Virginia hosts state lawmakers from across U.S. for summit on Black maternal health

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — State lawmakers, doctors and stakeholders from across the United States convened in Richmond on Friday to try and improve maternal health outcomes from Black Americans.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, regardless of socioeconomic status.

“I was one of the statistics,” Hampton Roads area resident Nichole Wardlaw told 8News.

Wardlaw said that, while carrying her first child, she got sick and didn’t receive the proper care.

“I had preeclampsia,” said Wardlaw. “Nobody listened to me, nobody explained anything to me.”

Wardlaw, who is now a midwife, joined lawmakers Friday for the General Assembly’s first Black Maternal Health Legislative Summit.

“Together, we can build a future where every woman has access to the care and support she deserves, no matter her income, race or creed,” House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) said.

Scott says Democrats plan to introduce a package of bills during next year’s General Assembly session, including ones to require medical professionals to take implicit bias training and more.

“We plan to file bills that will prioritize maternal mental health care, paid family leave, and a health equity bill dedicated to helping all moms have successful outcomes,” Scott said.

Governor Glenn Youngkin also launched a maternal health task force which met for the first time earlier this week.

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