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September Is National Infant Mortality
Awareness Month
I
n 2005, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, 26th District of
Texas, introduced Resolution 402 directing Congress to Campaign Goals
observe September as National Infant Mortality Awareness Extend and continue broad infant mortality awareness cam-
Month (NIMAM), and the U.S. House of Representatives paign; add preconception and inter-conception health messages.
passed the resolution in September 2006. It is four years later Develop activities targeted to the 18+ population. Reach the
and September continues to be nationally recognized as the college-age (black) population with targeted health mes-
month we focus our efforts on saving the lives of sages emphasizing preconception health and health-
babies in this country. The National Healthy Start care. Train minority college students – blacks in
Association (NHSA) along with several organi-
zations, government agencies and communi-
Healthy
particular – as health ambassadors. Increase
OMH involvement with colleges and univer-
ties understand the importance of raising sities, in particular minority serving institu-
awareness about infant mortality in the U.S.
We each seek to promote the effectiveness
Families=
tions such as HBCUs. Strengthen OMH
leadership at the local level through the
of programs and efforts to reduce infant
deaths, low-birth weight, pre-term births
and disparities in perinatal outcomes.
Healthy
establishment of working partnerships
with Healthy Start Programs, State/City
Health Departments, State OMHs and
This year’s theme Healthy Families=
Healthy Babies represents all that we do
throughout the year to reduce infant mortality.
Babies
CBOs.
The campaign has traveled the country
quite successfully, attending and organizing
Through preconception care, prenatal care and events in Washington, DC; Detroit, Michigan;
interconception care we equip families with what they Wichita, Kansas; Brooklyn, New York; Tallahassee,
need to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth. By pro- Fla.; New Orleans; Nashville, Tenn.; and Biloxi, Miss. Along
viding moms-and dads-to be with the tools and resources they with that, partners across the country have hosted more than 60
need to be healthy, we in turn help them to have a healthy baby. events.
During this month, we have the opportunity to spread the word From that perspective, the campaign is a success, and OMH
nationally and collectively about infant mortality. I urge you to keeps receiving requests for new events and for distribution of
reach out to community leaders and ask them to join us as we its materials. But in those travels OMH has heard one question
strive to reduce the number of babies dying in this country. from the local communities, organizations and health depart-
The year 2010 is right around the corner and the Healthy Peo- ments: now what? How can we move forward and take advan-
ple 2010 objective to reduce infant deaths is still achievable with tage of this initial push? This has been reinforced by the many
your continued support and efforts. This is a defining year and questions and messages A Healthy Baby Begins with You
September will be an exciting time. spokesperson Tonya Lewis-Lee has received asking her what
would come next.
A Healthy Baby Begins with You Campaign And what comes next is the Preconception Peer Educators
Overview (PPE) Program for college students. OMH is conducting a pilot
Let’s face it! Infant mortality rates among African American of the PPE Program on college’s campuses this September, for
babies are twice as high as those of the general population. But Infant Mortality Awareness Month.
many of the causes of infant mortality are preventable and A The Preconception Peer Educators (PPE) Program was
Healthy Baby Begins with You. launched with a two-day training at Howard University, August
In May 2007, the Office of Minority Health (OMH), of the 8-9, 2008, for the first crop of peer educators who would be
Department of Health and Human Services launched A Healthy training their peers at each of the pilot sites. Learn more about
Baby Begins with You - a national campaign to raise awareness the Preconception Peer Educators (PPE) Program.
about infant mortality with an emphasis on the African Ameri- For more information concerning a Healthy Baby Begins
can community - as one of our efforts to end health disparities with You Campaign, visit
http://omhrc.gov/ or email
among racial and ethnic minorities.
info@omhrc.gov square6
58
www.blackeoejournal.com The Black E.O.E. Journal
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