Black Maternal Health Week
We are thrilled to reveal the official theme for Black Maternal Health Week 2024 (#BMHW24): “Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW!” Widespread restrictions on abortion care access coupled with rising cases of criminalization due to pregnancy loss continue to widen the gaps of adverse maternal and birth outcomes in the U.S. Many of the states with the most restrictive abortion bans have the worst maternal and child health outcomes and the least supportive social welfare and family support programs, particularly for Black women and birthing people. The time is NOW to demand for comprehensive public and private insurance coverage for maternal, sexual, and reproductive health care; improving access to care across geographies and birth settings; issuing guidance to health care providers, institutions, insurance companies, and related entities on providing equitable, high-quality, patient-centered care; and funding research and programs that center and utilize scholarship of Black women and birthing people, as fully described in BMMA’s comprehensive Policy Agenda.
BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solutions. Most importantly, these are practices and solutions that incorporate the true needs, wants, and desires of Black women and birthing people.
Held annually on April 11-17th, BMHW is a week-long campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. The week is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month and begins on April 11th annually to join dozens of global organizations in marking this day as International Day for Maternal Health and Rights – an opportunity to advocate for the elimination of maternal mortality globally. The activities and conversations hosted throughout the week intentionally center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.
| Thurs. 4/11 | Int’l Day of Maternal Health & Rights + Official BMHW24 Kick-off Tweetchat + Black Doula Day |
| Fri. 4/12 | Data & Innovation Day |
| Sat. 4/13 | BMH Walk – Atlanta, GA |
| Sun. 4/14 | Amplify Reproductive Justice |
| Mon. 4/15 | #FundBlackMamas: Mobilizing Capital for Black Maternal Health |
| Tues. 4/16 | Policy Day |
| Wed. 4/17 | BMH in Your Neighborhood |
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THANK YOU TO THE #BMHW24 SPONSORS
