Sentara hosts maternal health and mortality roundtable [Video]

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — As healthcare and community leaders search for solutions to the Black maternal health crisis, Sentara hosted a roundtable discussion Monday with Region 3 Health and Human Services Director Melissa Herd.

“It doesn’t matter what education level you have, how much money you have. None of that matters. If you are Black and brown, you are more likely to die,” said Sentara Patient Experience and Community Outreach Director, Teresita Hammond.

A group of health professionals, community advocates and lawmakers gathered Monday to collaborate on ways to save lives.

“To put an answer on why that is happening, I can’t even quantify. But what I can do and what we’re trying to do is make sure we just meet people where they are,” Hammond said.

Often that is at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in the high risk birthing center.

While in the hospital, new moms will be visited …