A Nashville university partnered with several organizations for an event Wednesday in an effort to improve health outcomes for Black women in the city and across the country.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Nashville university partnered with several organizations for an event Wednesday in an effort to improve health outcomes for Black women in the city and across the country.
The Black Maternal Health Fair at Tennessee State University aims to help save lives.
According to state data, Black women in Tennessee are more than two times likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as their white counterparts. Advocates said that’s why they are dedicated to making improvements.
At Wednesday’s event, a dozen panelists spoke out about the current issues facing Black women when it comes to maternal health and the importance of mental health during pregnancy.
“I had to choose my life over my child’s life, and we chose my kiddo’s life with not knowing if I would make it, so knowing that there are moms out there, there are women out there that did not make it, it pulls my heart to want to speak up and speak out and explain to more people that we have to be advocates of mental health, maternal health, as well as self-care,” said Psyche Terry, co-found and CEO of UI Brands.
People of all ages showed up to have in-person conversations about what causes this disparity while also brainstorming potential solutions that could help prevent future tragedies.
“Now that people are understanding this is a problem, people are outraged and they want solutions. So, it’s critically important to have really candid dialog about the challenges,” explained Charles Johnson, founder of 4 Kira 4 Moms.
“We want people to walk away feeling encouraged and informed about the issues, but also empowered that they can make a difference and stand up and speak out for themselves and for others,” added Regine Moore, director of constituent relations at Walmart.
TSU’s Black Maternal Health Fair was held at TSU Health Sciences Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 9.