Women Gather in Orlando to Discuss Ways to Eliminate Black Health Disparities

Orlando women met to underscore health disparities in the medical field and reproductive rights of Black women. The Orlando’s Black Women’s Health Roundtable also praised Vice President Kamala Harris for her work in putting forth policies that will reduce racism in the medical field.Moderating the Central Florida panel was Democratic State Representative Kamia Brown. Brown was joined by Judge Glenda Hatchett, United States Senator Rebecca Rausch, Central Florida Gynecologist Ann Ashley-Gilbert and Reproductive Rights Advocate Keisha Mulfort. The women shared their stories, discussed statistics and legislation and offered their advice to those in attendance. Judge Glenda Hatchett’s daughter-in-law, Kira Johnson, died in childbirth due to medical neglect. “They never did the CT scan, which they should’ve done, and they would’ve understood that she was bleeding profusely,” Hatchett said. “All of her signs, even without the CT Scan, were a mess.” By the time the medical team identified the problem, there were three liters of blood in her abdomen. “She coded, they brought her back, she coded later and she never came back,” Hatchett added. Johnson left behind a grieving husband, 19-month-old baby and a newborn. “I thought that I was well-versed and knew stuff but I did not understand the...