Childbirth should be a time of joy.

For many women of color the experience can be life threatening. 

A screening of the film "Death by Delivery" will be held on February 3^rd from 5:30-8 at Kaplan Hall, SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus.

"Death by Delivery" is a film that looks at the disparate health outcomes that black mothers are experiencing. Official film description:

As the battle over women's bodies heats up, FUSION investigates an often overlooked crisis that is killing American mothers. American women today are dying during childbirth at higher rates than in 1987, and African American women are up to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. FUSION's Nelufar Hedayat investigates this domestic crisis and the human rights issues surrounding the shocking hike in maternal mortality rates.

Opening remarks will be given by:

• Wilma Alvarado-Little, MA MSW; Associate Commissioner, New York State Department of Health; Director, Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities Prevention 

After the film, a panel of local professionals in the field of Women's Health will answer questions and discuss the issue at the local level. Panelists include: 

• Martine Hackett, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Professions at Hofstra University. Her research interests include maternal child health, health equity, suburban public health and community based research. She is the author of the book Back to Sleep: Creation, Conflict and Consequences of a Public Health Campaign.  She previously served as a deputy director at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health and was also a television producer.  Martine earned a BFA in film and television from New York University, an MPH from Hunter College, and a PhD in sociology from the City University of New York Graduate Center.
• Giovanna Rogow, Executive Director of Maternal Infant Services Network
• Chloe Vitali, community member, founder of Hudson Valley Chocolate Milk

Presented by the New York State Department of Health Office Of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention, Maternal Infant Services Network, Orange County Department of Health, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, WMCHealth Performing Provider System (PPS) member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network, the Newburgh Healthy Black and Latinx Coalition, and the Black Maternal Health Disparities Taskforce of Orange County.

For more information contact Jackie Lawler, MPH, CIC, CPH, Epidemiologist, Orange County Department of Health, (845) 615-3884.