Revitalizing Maternal Health: Tulsa's Fight Against Maternal Mortality

At the site of Tulsa’s race massacre, efforts are underway to combat racial disparities in maternal mortality. Led by Corrina Jackson, Tulsa's Healthy Start program offers comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care to reduce maternal deaths. The initiative is part of a broader national effort addressing maternal health, especially among Black women.

At the historic site of Tulsa's race massacre, where a once-thriving Black Wall Street lay in ruins, Corrina Jackson is determined to save lives. This African American mother leads Tulsa's Healthy Start program, targeting the high maternal mortality rates among Black women in Oklahoma.

Statistics reveal Black women in Oklahoma are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than their white counterparts. The Healthy Start program, part of a national initiative, aims to bridge this racial gap by providing essential prenatal and postpartum care, while educating women on maternal health.

Funded with USD 105 million in grants, Healthy Start collaborates with local agencies to ensure holistic care. Despite Oklahoma's high maternal mortality rate of 30 per 100,000 live births, Jackson's program has reported zero maternal deaths among its participants over her 25-year tenure.

(With inputs from agencies.)