Black Maternal Health APPG

Official All-Party Parliamentary Group on Black Maternal Health.
Chair @bellribeiroaddy Secretariat @fivexmore_
Book tickets for our APPG meeting ⬇️

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Yesterday morning we hosted a Black Maternal Health APPG Meeting in recognition of the 5th annual Black Maternal Health Awareness Week.

Thank you @blisscharity @BirthTrauma @HGSupportUK @fivexmore for contributing to this conversation #bhmaw24

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Black disabled mothers face a triple hurdle of ableism, racism and misogyny. On Black Maternal Health Awareness Week, it’s vital that we work to dismantle stereotypes and ensure everyone receives the level of care, support, and respect they deserve.

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die in childbirth. Our APPG aims to raise awareness, empower health organisations to do better and drive through policy changes to ensure the colour of a mother's skin has no bearing on her health outcomes or her baby's #BMHAW24

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP @BellRibeiroAddy]

Today marks the start of Black Maternal Health Awareness Week.

Black mothers remain 4x more likely to die in pregnancy, childbirth & postpartum.

This week is a reminder that action is needed to address the inequalities Black women face at every stage of the birthing journey.

[Fivexmore_ @fivexmore]

It’s Black maternal health week! Despite progress, Black women are still four times more likely to die in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period in the UK (MBRRACE 2023)

Each day has a different theme all under the overarching goal of 'Advancing Black Maternal Health'

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Thank you to our Chair @BellRibeiroAddy for updating us on her survey of NHS Trusts.

Clear from the initial tranche of responses that many trusts are piloting important measures but provision overall is still too patchwork.

We need a national approach that learns from this.

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

The APPG convened a parliamentary meeting today, hosted by our Chair @BellRibeiroAddy and organised by our Secretariat @fivexmore.

The meeting gathered campaigners, healthcare professionals & local government figures to update on efforts to improve Black maternal health.

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Fantastic to hear from @tommys and @Petalscharity about their partnership, which seeks to ensure every parent can access counselling and remove the barriers that hinder access to mental healthcare for too many Black mothers.

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP @BellRibeiroAddy]

I was in Parliament today for the launch of @SandsUK & @tommys report #SavingBabiesLives

With the Government not on track to meet targets to reduce stillbirths & neonatal deaths, we must keep working to ensure every mother & every baby receives the standard of care they deserve.

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Many NHS Trusts are already acting to reduce the health inequalities Black mothers face.

With our NHS already stretched to its limit, they can't do it alone.

As well as learning from existing action, the Government should set out a national strategy with binding targets.

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP @BellRibeiroAddy]

I’ve written to NHS trusts asking about their plans to tackle the health inequalities facing Black mothers.

Lack of Government action has led many to introduce their own measures.

We can learn from their work to improve maternity care for Black women & birthing people #bmhaw23

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Thank you again to the MPs, campaigners and health professionals that attended last week's meeting in Parliament, to our secretariat @fivexmore for organising and our Chair @BellRibeiroAddy for hosting #bhmaw23

Make sure to sign up for our next meeting! #BlackMaternalHealth

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

What is allyship? Allyship refers to actions, behaviours, and practices that can be taken to support, amplify, and advocate for (in our case) Black mothers. Because systemic change in maternity care requires everyone, not just those impacted, to fight for it.

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

It is vital Black mothers are included in the conversation around maternal health.

The system removes their power.

It is our responsibility to restore their confidence & empower them to advocate for their rights by listening, understanding, supporting & taking action #bhmaw23

[Global Black Maternal Health @global_bmh]

We wholeheartedly support this letter and back @BellRibeiroAddy call 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

The government is failing to address the health disparities facing Black mothers in the UK.

They need to listen to the data, the experts, the women impacted, and set binding targets to eliminate racial health inequalities in maternity care #bhmaw23
https://t.co/DLCpHi7ffc

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP @BellRibeiroAddy]

I’ve written to NHS trusts asking about their plans to tackle the health inequalities facing Black mothers.

Lack of Government action has led many to introduce their own measures.

We can learn from their work to improve maternity care for Black women & birthing people #bmhaw23

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

At this week's APPG meeting in Parliament, we discussed the latest updates and progress in the world of maternity and Black maternal health.

We heard from MPs, campaigners & health professionals calling for binding government targets to end maternal health disparities #bhmaw23

[Black Maternal Health APPG @appg_bmh]

Powerful words from our Chair @BellRibeiroAddy, speaking in inaugural #BlackMaternalHealth debate.

3 years on, Govt still hasn't set binding targets to end fourfold mortality rate facing Black women.

If they're not part of the solution, they're part of the problem #bmhaw23