African Population and Health Research Center’s Post

I’m glad we have a study like this which makes the case to invest in health care coverage for ALL pregnant patients in the US. “Providing public health insurance coverage to undocumented immigrant women during pregnancy leads to better health care access, improved infant outcomes at birth, and downstream gains in education and economic well-being for those children later in life—all while recouping the initial investments of providing Medicaid coverage, the study shows.” #accesstocare #maternalhealth https://lnkd.in/eEZpdjSa

A new report finds that, despite recent declines in the US maternal death rate, more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventable. Researchers point to social determinants--including a shortage of maternity care providers, limited access to after-birth home visits and lack of guaranteed paid parental leave--which have increased the risk of maternal mortality, especially for Black people. “It is time to center equity by diversifying the workforce and addressing head on the racial inequities in health care quality and access,” said Dr. Laurie Zephyrin, senior vice president for advancing health equity at the Commonwealth Fund. “Now is the time to prioritize what we know is already working well in other countries: expanded health insurance coverage, stronger workforce and support systems, and paid maternity leave.” #MaternalHealth #MaternalHealthEquity #BlackBirthJustice #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #ReproductiveHealth #ReproHealth #MaternalCare

myGov has become a one-stop shop for birth registrations in Canberra, with Services Australia kicking off a new trial just weeks after assuming responsibility for ‘life event’ services. Bill Shorten Services Australia #myGov #digital #government #services #lifeevents #ServicesAus #register #birth #data #trial #ACT #hospital #data

The Birth and Death Registration Act: Details and Importance The Birth and Death Registration Act is a crucial piece of legislation that plays a vital role in establishing and maintaining individual identity and vital statistics within a nation. Here's a detailed breakdown of its key aspects: Purpose 1.Establishing Legal Identity: Birth registration serves as the first official document proving an individual's existence and citizenship. It's the foundation for obtaining other essential documents like passports, driver's licenses, and social security numbers. 2.Tracking Population Data:Death registration provides valuable data on mortality rates, causes of death, and demographic trends. This information is crucial for public health planning, resource allocation, and epidemiological studies. 3.Legal and Social Benefits:Both birth and death certificates are essential documents for inheritance matters, property claims, and accessing various social welfare programs. Key Provisions: 1.Mandatory Registration:The Act mandates the registration of all births and deaths within a specified timeframe, usually within 21 days. 2.Responsibility for Registration:The responsibility for registering births typically falls upon parents or healthcare providers, while death registration is usually handled by medical professionals or funeral directors. 3.Registration Process:The process involves submitting specific information about the individual (name, date and place of birth/death, parents' names, etc.) to designated authorities. A birth/death certificate is then issued as official proof of registration. ConfidentialityThe Act ensures the confidentiality of personal information contained in birth and death records. Importance and Impact 4.Accurate Population Data-Reliable birth and death registration data is essential for effective governance and planning. It allows policymakers to allocate resources efficiently, target healthcare interventions, and monitor population trends. 5.Social Protection-Birth registration can help prevent child trafficking and ensure children's access to education and healthcare. Death registration facilitates inheritance processes and provides closure for families. 6.Research and Analysis:Vital statistics derived from birth and death registration support research in demography, epidemiology, and public health, leading to improved healthcare systems and disease prevention strategies. Limitations and Challenges: 1.Under-registration-Incomplete registration, particularly in rural areas or marginalized communities, can hinder the effectiveness of the Act. 2.Data Quality: Ensuring accuracy and completeness of registered information is crucial for the reliability of vital statistics. 3.Technological Integration:Modernizing registration systems through digital platforms can improve accessibility, efficiency, and data security. In conclusion, the Birth and Death Registration Act plays a critical role in establishing individual identity.

🤰 Amid uncertainty over the fate of the Linda Mama Program, a new Senate bill proposes a solution. The Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Bill of 2023 aims to replace Linda Mama, offering free prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal services under the Social Health Insurance Fund. 💡 The bill focuses on pregnant women, newborns, and children up to 12 years old, providing comprehensive healthcare services. It also addresses the needs of vulnerable groups, including mentally challenged and disabled pregnant women. 👩⚕️ Key provisions include referral to adoption services, breastfeeding support, and training in feeding. The bill aims to improve service quality to reduce maternal mortality and ensure dignified treatment for all women, including those with disabilities. Maryagatha Gichana #NationGender

Prioritizing your child's health ensures you can celebrate their milestones. Child Health Plus covers well-child visits, immunizations, emergency services, and more, if they qualify! #GetCovered #HealthInsurance

Prioritizing your child's health ensures you can celebrate their milestones. Child Health Plus covers well-child visits, immunizations, emergency services, and more, if they qualify! #GetCovered #HealthInsurance

Please sign onto Kids Win Missouri below letter as I just did per below via https://lnkd.in/gqnmpqBN September 3, 2024 Sign On Letter to CMS to Support Continuous Coverage for Children & Maternal Health To Whom It May Concern, The undersigned Missouri organizations support the CMS Proposed Rule CMS-1809-P, which codifies 12-month Continuous Eligibility for Children covered by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and strengthens maternal health care. As advocates for child and family health, we believe that the proposed rules around 12-month Continuous Eligibility for Children covered by Medicaid and CHIP and the improvements to maternal health care will increase health outcomes for children and families and will provide Missouri families with the opportunity to live healthier and more productive lives. For our children to be successful in school and life, they need access to continuous health coverage and care. Research has consistently documented that children with uninterrupted healthcare coverage are more likely to access preventive care, have better attendance in school, and attain educational success. Disruptions in coverage and care not only leave children sick and without necessary medications or immunizations but also cause financial hardship and trauma to families. Ensuring that children have access to continuous eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP is a win for Missouri children, families, and communities. Maternal mortality is a national epidemic and disproportionately impacts Black and brown families and families who live in healthcare deserts around Missouri. We strongly support the improvements in federal standards and quality improvement measures that will help mothers in Missouri receive the best possible care, regardless of the color of their skin or where they live. The proposed rules will help ensure healthcare facilities and providers are properly equipped, trained, and prepared to care for mothers before, during, and after their pregnancies and will significantly reduce maternal mortality in the state. By supporting moms and babies, we can take a two-generation approach to fostering healthy, happy lives and empowering parents to raise the next generation of leaders. In Missouri, our motto is, "The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.” These proposed federal rules can help better provide for the health and welfare of children and families throughout Missouri and our neighbors nationwide. We strongly support the implementation of these rules and encourage the administration to move quickly to approve them. Sincerely, Douglas A. Freeman & Associates Doug Freeman DougAaronFreeman@gmail.com

I'm impressed by this energy, Missouri! This is a #proactive approach to improving maternal and infant health outcomes. The state Department of Social Services announced that #doula services for low-income women will now be reimbursed through MO HealthNet, the state’s Medicaid program. “DSS finds an immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare of pregnant women in Missouri, which requires this emergency action,” Monday’s emergency rule stated." This initiative signals a commitment to addressing public health concerns for pregnant women and birthing people in Missouri with access to community-based perinatal support. Now, which state will be next with emergency action? #populationhealth #communitybasedsupport #doulas #maternalhealth #reproductivejustice #healthequity #Blackmaternalhealth

Where 🌎 you 🏡 live matters . It affects your #health , with #access to #healthservices 👩⚕️and the #affordability 💲 of those services. It affects your ability to survive ☠ common occurrences such as #pregnancy or the quality of your life living with #diabetes. Access 🏥 outside of my corporate job to #healthcare #insurance where pre-existing conditions were covered was a deciding 💟 factor for me to jump out of my #corporate #career & take on the risk ✳ of #entrepreneurship. However, I had ZERO ❌ 0️⃣ idea how #wide the #premium differences 🤷♀️ were until I made my first map 🗺 of the premium costs across the U.S. ❗ It then became the #primary factor why we decided not to 👣 move from #Seattle. It was cheaper for us and our pre-#Medicare ⚕ age #retirement 👵 than selling to buy a new 💫 home in rural N.E. Georgia. At Willowfinch, our #users 👨👩👧👦 have access to #national maps which 👁 show the unsubsidized 💥 rates at the combination between 👓 county and ZIP Code level and you can 👀 scan the changes across each of the ages between 21 and 64. Visualizing 👁️🗨️ the price differences might not change where you decide to move for your next move, but at least you'll be 💭 informed... oh, and call 📲 your congress person if you live in one of those districts which could be impacted by this > 10% premium increase. https://lnkd.in/emqZwhTu