HARRISBURG –Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Berks) today announced his resolution to raise awareness of the need for improved health care for expectant mothers and their babies. House Resolution 641 designates Jan. 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day in Pennsylvania.

“More women in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in any other developed country in the world. And according to a 2019 report from America’s Health Rankings, Pennsylvania ranks 21^st in the nation in maternal mortality rates,” said Mackenzie. “We can do better than this, which is why I introduced legislation that was signed into law in 2018 to create the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.”

The 15-member Maternal Mortality Review Committee is charged with identifying pregnancy-related deaths, overseeing the review of these deaths, recommending actions to help prevent future deaths and publishing review results. This information will help clinicians and public health professionals better understand circumstances surrounding pregnancy-related deaths and enable them to take appropriate actions to prevent them.

“Forming the committee to arm health care practitioners with more and better information is essential,” said Mackenzie. “However, we also need to continue to raise awareness and encourage women to talk with their doctors about what they can do to ensure the best possible outcome for them and their babies, which is why shining the spotlight on Maternal Health Awareness Day is so important.”

House Resolution 641 has been approved by the House Health Committee.

 

 
Information provided to TVL by:
The Office of Representative Ryan Mackenzie
134th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

 

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