NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Healthcare leaders teamed up with Gethsemane Baptist Church for the Regional Maternal Health Convening.
The two-day event wrapped up Wednesday morning following several presentations and panels.
In a release, “a Regional Convening on Maternal Health [focuses] on developing a culturally competent workforce, postpartum coverage, Medicaid renewals, birth worker reimbursements, chronic condition management pre-pregnancy and engaging healthcare professionals with faith and community leaders.”
Sentara Healthcare, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Celebrate Healthcare, the Region three of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services partnered with the Greater Peninsula C.A.R.E.S. Foundation, Inc.
Melissa Herd, the acting regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 3, said that “we wanted to bring together people from community-based organizations, who are working with birthing families. We are focused on making sure that Virginia has information and can share best practices across the region.”
The hope is that Virginia can serve as a model to bring education and information to the community.
“Since, we, right here in Eastern Virginia where the history of slavery and issues that impact the Black community,” said Dr. Cynthia Romero, director of the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health at Eastern Virginia Medical School, “we are hopeful that we can be part of the healing and transformation of our health and health care system so that we can create and lead a culture of health that will last generations.
Black Maternal Health Week is April 11-17.
