The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $5 million congressional appropriation to increase efforts across the state to reduce infant mortality.
Nirvana Manning, M.D., professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, says that funding will allow UAMS the ability to supply resources to every birthing hospital in the state and reach out directly to postpartum mothers to steer them to the appropriate help they may need.
The funds come as part of a legislative package that was championed by Sen. John Boozman and approved late last March.
According to Dr. Manning, Sen. Boozman reached out the UAMS last year to coordinate the most efficient ways to improve the state’s infant mortality statistics.
“Healthy, thriving families are key to a successful Arkansas, and UAMS consistently dedicates significant resources to help achieve that objective across our state. I was proud to secure a federal investment to enhance its infant and maternal care, so moms and babies receive proactive outreach and adequate medical support. Dr. Manning and her colleagues are terrific partners whose commitment to solving this challenge will continue demonstrating the merit in allocating these funds,” Boozman said.
This comes after shocking statistics coming from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, Arkansas had 272 infant deaths in 2022, equaling an infant mortality rate of 7.67 deaths out of every 1,000 live births. This placed Arkansas third on a list of states with the highest infant death rates.
“I said we’ve got to first look at the moms,” Dr. Manning said. “There are many moms that either due to health issues, lack of resources or stressors that are not in the best place to take care of their babies and families.”
Dr. Manning will be directing the UAMS project and she says she is determined that best way to get essential health care information directly into the hands of as many Arkansas mothers and families is to equip every labor and delivery facility in the state with informational packets and resources after delivery. Dr. Manning also wants to give new mothers tangibles, such as infant sleep sacks, car seats or diapers.
According to Dr. Manning, UAMS will provide each birthing center with those resources to give to each newly postpartum mother or couple, regardless of whether the child is the first or subsequent birth.
Sleep sacks are helpful in keeping infants on their backs, as well as stay warm as they fall asleep. Sleep sacks eliminate the need for loose bedding in the crib that can pose a risk of suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Dr. Manning calls the second part of the project “a reverse call center.” In this part, trained workers will reach out directly to postpartum parents to see how things are coming along and see if there are any ways they can help. The goal being to remove the burden on families to reach out to medical professionals.
The funds were released on July 26th and have been included in six final fiscal year 2024 appropriation bills approved by Congress in March. So far, this legislative package has funded health and education priorities, national security, government oversight and community investment projects.
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