2025 -- H 5154
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2025, TO BE "MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENE SS DAY"
IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Felix, Chippendale, Tanzi,
Cruz, Kislak, Casimiro, Diaz, and Stewart
Date Introduced: January 23, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, January 23
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is recognized as Maternal Health Awareness Day, and was 1
established to educate citizens about the critical importance of maternal health and promising 2
maternal health initiatives. This year’s theme is “Know What’s at Stake”; and 3
WHEREAS, Maternal health refers to women’s health and well-being during pregnancy, 4
childbirth, and postpartum (after childbirth) is integral to the health of our State, communities, 5
and families; and 6
WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more 7
than 84 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, and severe maternal 8
morbidity regarding pregnancy-related complications lead to major short or long-term health 9
consequences; and 10
WHEREAS, The rate of severe maternal morbidity among Rhode Island women 11
delivering in hospitals is lower than the national rate; however, the United States has the highest 12
rate among all wealthy nations; and 13
WHEREAS, Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate of any racial or 14
ethnic group and although that number has decreased in recent years, there still exists a growing 15
concern due in great measure to health care becoming unobtainable for these mothers and others 16
in both rural and urban areas due to ongoing financial, staffing, and policy changes which have 17
caused an "Access in Crisis" across the country; and 18
WHEREAS, All pregnant individuals should have access to comprehensive and timely 19
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prenatal services across the healthcare continuum, and reducing prenatal health inequities through 1
policy and systems change can help improve opportunities for every Rhode Islander; and 2
WHEREAS, To combat the maternal mortality rate, the State of Rhode Island has 3
engaged in ongoing efforts to systematically collect and comprehensively review maternal deaths 4
through the Pregnancy & Post-Partum Death Review Committee; and 5
WHEREAS, In 2023, one third of Rhode Island’s births were delivered by cesarean 6
delivery which is now the most common surgery performed in the United States, and which is 7
often preventable; and 8
WHEREAS, At least five percent of the babies born in Rhode Island are prenatally 9
exposed to substances like alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, stimulants, and opioids; and 10
WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is collaborating with community organizations, 11
hospital and health systems and clinical collaborations including the Perinatal Neonatal Quality 12
Collaborative (PNQC) of Rhode Island, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) of 13
Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Prematurity Task Force to reduce maternal mortality and 14
severe morbidity through collaboration and implementation of evidence-based initiatives; and 15
WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is committed to protecting the health and well-16
being of pregnant people by continuing public awareness and understanding of health risks and 17
factors that contribute to maternal death, to improving public and professional awareness of the 18
issues related to maternal health and mortality, and promoting the various efforts to reduce 19
maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities; now, therefore be it 20
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 21
proclaims January 23, 2025, to be "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode 22
Island; and be it further 23
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 24
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Stacy Paterno, Executive Vice President, 25
Rhode Island Medical Society. 26
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