The Orange County Health Department will host a film screening and panel discussion of the movie “Death by Delivery” at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 3rd at SUNY Orange’s Newburgh campus, located at 1 Washington Center.
“This important film examines the disparate health outcomes that black mothers experience,” Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said. “Promoting the health of women, infants and children continues to be a health priority for the Orange County Department of Health. Maternal and infant health data are widely used indicators of the overall health of a community.”
The New York State Department of Health reports significant outcome disparities among black women giving birth in Orange County, with black babies more likely to be born premature than white babies, at 13.8 percent vs 7.4 percent. It is important to note that prenatal care, gestational age and birthweight are strong indicators of both maternal and infant health.
The Orange County Department of Health will be co-sponsoring the event with the State Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention, Maternal Infant Services Network, Planned Parenthood Greater New York, the Black Maternal Health Disparities Taskforce of Orange County, Newburgh Healthy Black and Latinx Coalition and WMCHealth Performing Provider System (PPS) member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion facilitated by the NYS DOH, Hofstra University Department of Health Professions Assistant Professor Martine Hackett, Giovanna Rogow, MISN Executive Director, and Chloe Vital, community member and founder of Hudson Valley Chocolate Milk. For additional information, please call the OCDOH at 845-360-6680.