Healthy Babies Block Party is Saturday on South Side

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown pediatrician Dr. Louise Hayes is the featured speaker for the Greater Youngstown Community Dialogue on Racism’s Healthy Babies Block Party on June 3 at the Youngstown Boys & Girls Club, 2105 Oak Hill Ave.

The primary purpose of the Healthy Babies Block Party, which will take place from noon to 3 p.m., rain or shine, is to raise awareness about infant-mortality rate, which is measured by the number of babies who die before their first birthday, said the Rev. Edward Weisheimer, co-chairman of the Greater Youngstown Community Dialogue on Racism.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to share the fruits of interracial dialogue, the initiatives of medical and social-service agencies, and for the community to become better informed and to help reduce infant mortality,” said the Rev. Mr. Weisheimer.

He said Dr. Hayes, whom he described as a pioneering physician, gives “outstanding leadership in the efforts to raise awareness about and to address the needs concerning black infant mortality.”

Infant mortality has three leading causes – prematurity/pre-term birth, sleep-related deaths and birth defects, said Dr. Hayes, who noted the South Side of Youngstown has the second-highest infant-mortality rate in Ohio, where black babies die at nearly three times the rate as white babies.

The Greater Youngstown Community Dialogue On Racism, with emphasis on infant mortality, decided to have a block party on the South Side to make the community aware of its high infant-mortality rate and to give possible solutions on how to solve the problem by sharing information, showing a video and having resource people available in one place to discuss solutions.

Solving the problem of increased infant mortality is difficult and requires commitment from the state, county and local levels, health officials said.

Dr. Hayes added, “Recent research is starting to tease out just how big a part institutional racism plays in the racial and ethnic disparities of infant mortality. Evidence now suggests that dealing with discrimination may lead to chronic stress, which takes a toll on the body and possibly triggers biological changes in a woman that can affect the health of her children.”

In addition to Dr. Hayes, the Healthy Babies Block Party offers attendees opportunities to join in raising community awareness of infant mortality and to learn what the Youngstown area is doing to advance pre-natal health, healthy births and maternal care, Mr. Weisheimer said.

Attendees also will be able to meet community health care personnel, have a free sack lunch, entertainment and play equipment for children who are accompanied by an adult. Also, a Pack ‘n Play and Safe Sleep Survival Kit will be given away to one participant and other door prizes will be available.