NWA 2024 Health Summit: Two mothers pushing for better education of maternal health

Elena Ramirez
·3 min read

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The 2024 NWA Health Summit brought guest speakers to discuss the recent findings from a report of Heartland Forward.

The Heartland Forward CEO and President Ross DeVol said they want to create long-term solutions to the maternal health care problems that are costing some states billions of dollars.

The event had local attendees and employees from Google Health all coming together to see how the community can improve the health of mothers and their children.

“Every woman deserves to have the best care possible,” said Krista Longston, executive director of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institute for Community Health Innovation.

According to UAMS, Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. The state also has the third-highest infant mortality rate in the nation.

“One of the reasons Arkansas is ranked low is just due to access. More than 40-plus counties in the state are considered maternal health desserts due to limited access to delivery providers,” said Longston.

Women shared their stories on their maternal health care. Panelist Mabel Ijmakinde told the audience how she had high hopes for giving birth in America as a Nigerian woman.

Mammograms should start earlier amid rising breast cancer rates, panel says

“You think of America, you think of God,” she said.

But her experience was not what she was expecting. She was told that the care she needed was not available here.

“It doesn’t matter how well-educated you are. If you are dismissed over and over again, it has a toll on your mental health,” Iris Calderon, a panelist said.

Calderon now helps women apply for WIC among other advocacies.

“We have great doctors…People need to get more help with mental health and support. A lot of parents, a lot of mothers do not have people around,” Ijmakinde said. “We need more education on what do you do, how do you face the world with your baby.”

Heartland Forward is a “think and do tank” helping communities in the middle of the country. Heartland Forward does this by providing programs and policies to help the needs of the area.

Heartland Forward recently released a new action plan to address maternal health. The plan will focus on four areas of impact:

  • Supporting and advocating for community health workers.

  • Expanding access to telehealth.

  • Addressing workforce shortages across the healthcare industry.

  • Increasing transparency through data collection and evaluation.

Toni Emrich, a mother who attended the health summit, wants to encourage soon-to-be mothers to advocate for themselves.

“If doctors would listen more carefully with what their patients were saying especially during the first few visits about concerns the patients may be having, I think that could prevent heartache down the road,” said Emrich.

She believes if she were educated about different options during her pregnancy, her experience would have been easier.

“Those hospital stays and the NICU I believe played a significant role in my postpartum depression,” said Emrich.

Emrich and Ijmakinde are working to spread awareness and education about maternal health in hopes that the next soon-to-be mother will have a smoother experience bringing life into the world.

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