Staying Healthy - The Office of Minority Health

Crisis in the Crib: Saving Our Nation's Babies

In recognition of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, the Office of Minority Health and producer Tonya Lewis Lee released a documentary on Sept. 9, 2009, focusing on the issue of Infant Mortality in the African-American community. Much of the footage was shot during a trip to Memphis, in which Lee, spokeswoman for OMH's Healthy Baby Begins with You Campaign, worked with federal and local officials, students and residents to raise awareness about the issue of infant mortality.

Infant Mortality for the African-American community is a pressing, but often overlooked, health disparity. The rate of death for black babies before their first birthday is twice the rate of white babies and greatly outpaces the national average. For some communities these deaths can seem like a normal part of life, but they are strong indicators of the health of the community.

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Last Modified: 10/05/2009 02:28:00 PM