Black maternal health summit addresses racial discrepancies in health care: ‘It’s a moral imperative’

RICHMOND, Va. — The first multi-state summit on how to address Black maternal health care at the local, state, and federal levels took place at the Virginia General Assembly Friday. The Black Maternal Health Legislative Summit brought together lawmakers from across the country for discussions and workshops centered on improving maternal health outcomes for Black mothers. Nichole Wardlaw, a Virginia-based midwife, said she has faced her own struggles in the health care system. “I came into this work first because I was one of the statistics,” Wardlaw said. Nicole Wardlaw For Elle Schnetzler, director and owner of the birthing center BirthCare & Women’s Health in Alexandria, Virginia, her work is personal, too. “I just decided that is the space that I wanted to be in,” Schnetzler said. “Helping people in general, but especially the mothers that look like me.” Elle Schnetzler Now, both work to ensure Black mothers have the support they need before, during, and after pregnancy. “I knew that I would never want anybody to experience what I did with my first pregnancy,” Wardlaw said. “The difference in access to care is based on your state, and that shouldn’t be the case,” Schnetzler said. Racial discrepancies in health...