Parliament is to debate the health inequalities faced by Black women in the UK today, Monday 19 April 2021 at 18:30 pm. It will discuss the disgraceful Black maternity scandal and racial inequality for Black mothers during childbirth. More than 30,000 supporters have written to their MPs ahead of this debate.
“No woman should die needlessly during pregnancy, childbirth and six weeks after because of her skin colour – and yet in 2021, this is four times more likely the case for Black women (MBRRACE, 2020).
The petition “Improve Maternal Mortality Rates and Health Care for Black Women,” received over 187,000 signatures and has forced parliament to debate the inhumane inequality that Black women face.
In a media release made available to African Voice, Tinuke Awe and Clotilde Rebecca Abe, Founders of Five X More – a grassroots campaign that is committed to changing Black women’s maternal health outcomes said, “Parliament has a duty to hold the NHS to account, to set clear targets and an action plan to address this racial disparity that has not changed for decades.”
“We are launching a national survey 20th April 2021 to better understand the Black women’s and Black birthing person maternal health experience, both positive and negative, so that real change can be achieved.”
Supporters at a recent public debate said: “The colour of a mother’s skin should have no impact on her health or her baby’s health” Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, adding “Black babies have an 112% increased risk of stillbirth and 50% increased risk of neonatal death.”
“The trope of the strong Black woman is a racist trope. It’s there to silence our pain. It’s important to understand how this contributes to the higher proportion of pregnancy-related deaths we’re seeing today.” Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.
“Most women never feel more vulnerable than when they’re pregnant. The statistics about Black maternal health are truly alarming but what’s even more alarming is how little has been done about this.” Diane Abbott, MP.
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