“Hundreds of babies are alive today due to our community’s collective efforts to reduce infant mortality in Hamilton County over the past decade,” said Jill Miller, president and CEO of Bethesda Inc. and bi3, in a statement for 91.7 WVXU.
One of those major efforts has been led by bi3 grantee partner Cradle Cincinnati, whose vision is to ensure every baby in Cincinnati lives to celebrate their first birthday. Reports show the efforts are working—the number of babies dying continued to decline in Hamilton County in 2021, setting a record low for the second year in a row.
While the record low is a joyous victory, the fight must continue. There are still extreme disparities between Black and White infants. The report found that Black infants in Hamilton County continue to die at a higher rate than White infants, mirroring a national trend.
By funding programs like Mama Certified, an initiative designed to help improve equitable maternal care for Black parents-to-be, and Queens Village, a community-based support network for Black mothers, bi3 hopes to see a day where every baby born in Hamilton County has an equal opportunity to achieve their best health.
