BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON CALLS FOR END TO MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THE BRONX
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Bronx, NY – On Monday, March 10th, 2025, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson renewed her call to combat the ongoing maternal health crisis that has disproportionately impacted Black and Latina women in the Bronx. In response to alarmingly high maternal mortality and morbidityrates in the borough, Borough President Gibson released a comprehensive Birthing Center Report that outlined specific recommendations aimed at addressing the crisis and expanding birthing care options for Bronx residents. Central to these recommendations was the urgent need for a Bronx-based birthing center.
“The maternal health crisis in the Bronx is a public health emergency that demands immediate action and our Bronx mothers and birthing people cannot wait,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Black and Latina women in our borough are disproportionately impacted by high maternal mortality and morbidity rates, and it is long past time that we address this disparity. The release of our Birthing Center Report is a critical step forward in providing recommendations on how we address this crisis and ensure Bronx mothers and birthing people receive the care that they deserve. We need a Bronx-based birthing center that offers culturally competent, patient-centered care before, during and after childbirth. I want to thank all our doulas, midwives, and healthcare advocates for their partnership on this report and unwavering commitment to maternal health equity. We will continue to push for solutions that prioritize the well-being of our communities.”
“As a new mom, this crisis is deeply personal to me,” said Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero. “I understand the challenges and vulnerabilities that come with motherhood, and I know firsthand how vital it is to have access to safe, compassionate, and culturally sensitive care. The maternal health crisis in the Bronx cannot be ignored any longer. We must do more to support mothers and birthing people in our borough, ensuring they have the resources, care, and options they deserve. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the doulas, midwives, and advocates who have been tireless in their efforts to address this issue. Your support of this report and your unwavering advocacy are helping to prevent the next maternal death, and for that, we are all incredibly grateful.”
The report, Delivering Change: Establishing a Birthing Center in the Bronx, discussed the factors underlying the maternal health crisis in our borough, the reasons there are few birthing centers in our city, and the urgent need to open a birthing center in the Bronx. Despite the growing demand for birthing alternatives, Bronx women have faced continued challenges due to the lack of facilities that meet their specific needs. The report proposed a detailed roadmap for establishing a birthing center that would prioritize culturally sensitive care while also addressing the critical shortage of maternity services in the Bronx.
“We know from evidence and experience that the outcomes at birth centers for low risk pregnancies are excellent and lower cost. Most importantly, they provide care that fully engages expectant parents in their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care,” said Myla Flores, Founder of The Birthing Place; Co-founder of Womb Bus and Maryam Reproductive Health + Wellness; and President of New York State Birth Center Association.
“Community-based birthing centers with midwifery care provide safe and quality care for women and their families. This has been shown nationally and in the Bronx where the Morris Heights Health Center/Women’s Health and Birthing Pavilion from 1986 to 2012 was a haven for perinatal care for thousands of women. The results were healthy mothers and healthy babies. I applaud the work of Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and her commitment to lowering maternal mortality and launching this report. Families in the Bronx have the right to a birthing center here. This is a significant step towards that reality,” said Jennifer Dohrn, Former Director, Morris Heights Health Center/Childbearing Center.
“The Bronx Health Link is committed to supporting local institutions and organizations working to combat the maternal health crisis, particularly in communities of color, working-class, and immigrant communities. This crisis demands innovative solutions, and we recognize the essential role of the Birthing Center in this effort. We deeply appreciate BP Gibson’s steadfast commitment and tireless advocacy in addressing the maternal health crisis, which has disproportionately impacted Bronx mothers and birthing persons. We look forward to seeing the recommendations in the Birthing Center Report implemented as part of the broader effort to drive meaningful change,” said Shirley Leyro, Administrative Director, The Bronx Health Link.
High Rates of Maternal Mortality in the Bronx & NYC
Data has consistently shown that maternal morbidity rates are disproportionately high for Black and Latina women in both the Bronx and New York City. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Black women in New York City are 9.2 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women. This disparity is even more pronounced in the Bronx, where Black and Latina women have borne the brunt of inadequate healthcare services and limited access to prenatal and postpartum care. Furthermore, the Bronx has a significant shortage of healthcare facilities that can cater to the unique needs of these communities, contributing to the worsening health outcomes for women in the borough.
The Birthing Center Report proposed several solutions to these challenges, including the establishment of a local birthing center that would offer midwife-driven, culturally competent, patient-centered care. Borough President Gibson’s recommendations also called for better maternal healthcare policies, improved outreach efforts, and increased funding for community-based healthcare programs to ensure that all Bronx residents have access to the care they deserve.
During the event, Borough President Gibson was joined by healthcare advocates, community leaders, and local stakeholders who have long championed the cause of improving maternal health outcomes in the Bronx. The collaborative effort aimed to bring attention to the urgent need for action and highlighted the importance of continued advocacy for systemic change to address these disparities.
Advocacy for Maternal Healthcare
Maternal healthcare has been a longstanding priority for Borough President Gibson. Early in her administration, she formed the Bronx Maternal Health Consortium, bringing together leaders from across the borough in the field of maternal health to help fight the maternal mortality crisis. She has hosted roundtables with maternal health providers and has consistently advocated at the state and city levels for more interventions to protect maternal health. Working with her colleagues in the City Council and the Public Advocate, she has passed legislation to better inform pregnant women of the city’s standards for respectful care at birth and to increase awareness of fraudulent “crisis pregnancy centers” that seek to rob women of their choices.
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