TOLEDO (WTOL) - Alarming statistics about infant mortality here in Ohio; 982, that’s how many babies died in the state before they could celebrate their first birthday in 2017.
But a group here in Lucas County wants to make sure were can celebrate more birthdays in the years to come.
Health officials, legislators and community members gathered at the Friendly Center in North Toledo Friday for the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality meeting.
Their mission is to reduce the number of babies who die and seek ways to better support families in our community.
For most, nothing is quite as tragic as the death of a child.
"For every one baby that dies it impacts over 100 people, " said Dr. Stacy Scott, executive director of Baby First Network.
Mark McBee is one of those 100 people. He’s a firefighter who has seen some of the worst.
“It’s a very traumatic situation going in there,” said Mark McBee. “A lot of us, we have families. It’s a traumatic situation for the parents of that child.”
In Lucas County we lost 53 babies in 2017 alone. That makes our infant mortality rate one of the highest in the state. That’s why it’s critical we have conversations like this.
“If we can start at the cradle with helping mom and a child start off on that right path then at the end or as they get older we won’t need to be spending as much money on prevention or restoration,” said State Representative Paula Hicks-Hudson, District 44.
Leaders of the Collaboration to Prevent Infant Mortality say a large issue is the disparity that for every white baby that dies, close to three more Non-Hispanic, black babies will die.
"We really see stress as one of the number one factors and for black women it’s stress due to racism, " said Scott.
Other factors that contribute to the infant mortality rate include access, support, poverty and family involvement. People from all walks of life addressed this issue and were working towards solutions together Friday.
"For me personally it's for us as legislators to hear from professionals and begin to craft good policy that will really go and target our need to reduce infant mortality, " said State Representative Hicks-Hudson.
Those leading the charge for change say it’s not a quick fix, but requires everyone’s help.
"It’s all of the other people who need to come together at the table and say what can we do to challenge some of these barriers that we see that are really preventing women to get the kind of help and support they need to have more positive birth outcomes, " said Dr. Stacy Scott.
Mark McBee said he has a new perspective to take back with him into the community.
"Inspiration to educate others to encourage others, to pass the word so that we can reduce those risk issues, " said McBee.
That’s what leaders say it’s about. All of us raising awareness, providing support for mom’s and families, and lending a helping hand where you can.
