In recent years, the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services and Guilford County government as a whole have been putting a lot of effort into preventing infant mortality in the county.

County officials are encouraging everyone interested to take part in a virtual summit later this month that will be focused on addressing this problem.

 “Every Baby Guilford,” a program of Guilford County and its community partners, will host the virtual event: “Crucial Conversations: The State of Infant Mortality in Guilford County.”  The presentation and discussion, which will run from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, will present new infant mortality data for Guilford County.

Congresswoman Alma Adams will be the keynote speaker for the event.

According to a press release announcing the virtual summit, it is meant “to re-inspire the bold goal of reducing infant mortality disparities by half by the year 2026.” The event will also celebrate “the collective action movement currently underway by building collaborative solutions that centers and works together with the community to disrupt longstanding health outcomes and racial disparities throughout Guilford County.”

In 2019, there were 6,045 babies born in Guilford County – and 56 of them didn’t live to see a first birthday.

Jean Workman, the program manager for Every Baby Guilford, stated that the event will include an update on the 2021 Momnibus Act.  That’s a federal bill directed toward reducing infant mortality – particularly deaths among minorities, veterans, and other “vulnerable populations.”  The Momnibus Act also addresses maternal health issues related to COVID-19.

Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston has frequently spoken at commissioner meetings on the need for Guilford County to do absolutely everything in its power to reduce infant mortality and meet the goal of at least cutting it in half in five years.

Alston will speak at the February 24 virtual event. 

This week, Alston said the Guilford County commissioners have named infant mortality “one of our top priorities” and he added that the board is focused on reducing “the high disparity rates for black families in our community” when it comes to infant mortality.

Registration for the virtual event is “strongly encouraged” for those planning on watching.  They can do at the following Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3zCm6nLGRImWeJoWWbj6MA

 The event will also be live streamed on the Every Baby Guilford Facebook page and Guilford County Government Facebook page. 

Anyone seeking more information about Every Baby Guilford or this event should visit www.everybabyguilford.org.