DAYTON, OH | by Rachel Aragon | March 22, 2019
Original article can be found at: https://fox45now.com
DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) Five Rivers Health Centers just received more than a million dollars to help women get better care during pregnancy.
For the last five years, Five Rivers Health Centers has been focused on serving expectant mothers.
CEO Gina McFarlane-El said a lot what they do is made possible thanks to a federal grant under the Healthy Start Initiative.
“We have the opportunity to serve over 600 pregnant women annually,” said McFarlane-El.
With the grant renewed they’ll be able to serve hundreds more.
“We help them get to their appointments, that they have all the resources that they may need with regards to the care,” said McFarlane-El.
Montgomery County has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the state at 7.8 per 1,000 births.
It’s even higher among African Americans.
“If you look at the health disparity between African American babies and European American babies, we’re looking at almost a 4 to 1 ratio,” said McFarlane-El
“Moving forward I hope that that rate goes down a lot more,” said Denise Lauderdale.
She’s expecting her third child and her first girl.
She’s also being extra careful this pregnancy and really sticking to her prenatal care routine.
“Because I’m older you have to be more cautious and take those precautions to make sure you deliver a health baby,” said Lauderdale.
Five Rivers Health Centers encourages women to begin prenatal care as soon as they get that positive test.
“We’re trying to make sure they get all different tests that are necessary so that they will have a great outcome,” said McFarlane-El.
Click here to learn more about Five Rivers Health Centers prenatal services.
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