Proclaiming January 23, 2026, to Be "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, January rd 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 "Holding Ground on Maternal Health"; 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 80 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, 2026, 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 Dr. Dina Himelfarb, President, Rhode Island Medical Society.