By Cameron Green
FAYETTEVILLE Ark. (UATV) –The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is receiving $40 million in federal funding they announced on Feb. 9. The funding will be targeted toward infant and maternal mortality rates.
Infant deaths are defined as deaths that happen within a year of birth according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Arkansas has been one of the highest ranked states in the country in infant mortality rates. The state ranked second highest behind Mississippi in 2023 according to the CDC.
“To help mothers in Arkansas, to change this, to turn this ship around. It’s gonna take more than women.” Manuel Tejada, program director for the Arkansas Center for Women and Infant’s Health, said. “It’s gonna take men, it’s gonna take their families. It’s gonna take our whole community.”
This funding will be focused on changing the direction of the mortality rates Arkansas Sen. John Boozman believes. Boozman was stated to have championed the funding for UAMS in the press release. He believes that the funding is critical to their mission in improving the health of Arkansans.
The funding stemmed from the appropriations legislation which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Feb. 3.
There will be funding targeted for various programs for UAMS. Included in this will be a proactive call center, renovations to buildings on their Little Rock Campuses, as well as new vans.
It will not be all upgrades for UAMS however, it also includes supply kits that are given to newborn mothers to give them a head start. Included in these supply kits are essentials such as diapers, soap, thermometers and much more. The mothers will also receive an “I Gave Birth Bracelet,” which is given so that medical providers know what is needed in a medical emergency.
UAMS Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, MD. is appreciative of the support provided by Sen. Boozman, and in the press release said “UAMS is committed to improving the health of all Arkansans.”
According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, there were 10 counties in Arkansas without any active obstetrician-gynecologists during 2022. OB-GYNs are doctors that specialize in women’s reproductive health. Nearly half of the OB-GYNs in Arkansas counties were not full time in 2022.
They also found that Severe Maternal Morbidity was highest among Black women and was followed by Pacific Islanders. SMM is severe health complications following pregnancy.