Lansing, MI - Healthy women are the cornerstone of healthy societies, and improving the health of Michigan women and girls has the potential to drive health improvements for all communities across the state.
To help reaffirm the state’s commitment to improving the health of all Michigan women, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is joining with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health in proclaiming May as Women’s Health Month.
Additionally, May 9-15 will be designated as “Women’s Health Week.”
“The health of every woman in Michigan is crucial to the overall well-being of our state,” said Governor Whitmer. “By designating May as Women’s Health Month, we recognize the urgency of using state investments to drive equality and expand access to healthcare by removing as many barriers as possible. We can achieve better outcomes for women and families through programs like Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies – an initiative designed to prevent maternal deaths and addresses racial disparities and inequities. This Women’s Health Month, I want to recommit the state of Michigan to improving the health and well-being of every woman in our state.”
Despite advances in medical science and technology and statewide efforts to combat maternal deaths, women are still dying from pregnancy-related causes. About 44% of maternal deaths in Michigan are preventable, and Black women are more than two times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies plan provides actionable policy change, creates partnerships with providers and universities, expands access to home visiting programs and aids in family planning access and education.
“Women play such an important role in keeping families healthy,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Women are often the ones who take their family members to the doctor, sometimes delaying care for themselves because they are taking care of others. That is why it is so important to elevate the importance of women’s health and give women the resources to get and stay healthy.”
For more information on women’s health, visit the CDC website.