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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-264
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
September 20, 2016
To recognize the month of September 2016 as “Infant Mortality Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, infant mortality rates serve as an indicator of a community’s overall wellness;
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia’s infant mortality rate is higher than the national rate;
WHEREAS, among capital cities in high-income countries, the District has the highest infant mortality rate, at more than 3 times the rates of Tokyo and Stockholm;
WHEREAS, in 2014, for every 1,000 live births to District of Columbia residents, approximately 7 infants died before reaching their first birthday, down from 12 in 2004;
WHEREAS, Wards 5, 8, and 7, respectively, have the highest infant mortality rates in the District;
WHEREAS, in 2013, the infant mortality rate in Ward 5 was 11.9%, with 14 infant deaths under one year of age, while the rate in Ward 2 was 0% and Ward 3 was 1.2%;
WHEREAS, in 2013, the infant mortality rate for births to black mothers in the District was 9.9%, while the rate for births to white mothers was 1.7%;
WHEREAS, premature births in the District of Columbia increased from 9.9% in 2012 to 10.6% in 2013, and almost 60% of pre-term infants who died had mothers aged 15 to 34 years;
WHEREAS, the leading maternal risk factors for infant mortality in the District are obesity, tobacco use, chronic disease, diabetes, high stress, and high blood pressure;
WHEREAS, infant mortality is largely preventable;
WHEREAS, in 2007, the Department of Health released the Infant Mortality Action Plan, a comprehensive 5-year road map that focused on (1) increasing the capacity of home visitation for pregnant women; (2) enhancing collaboration within the department and between other agencies; and (3) increasing coordination between the District government and community organizations;
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia created the multidisciplinary Infant Mortality Review Team under the supervision of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner;
WHEREAS, expansion of primary care, behavioral health, and dental services have been implemented in Wards 5, 7, and 8 to better address the health needs of women in childbearing years;
WHEREAS, the District, in partnership with area hospitals and in particular, with Children’s National Health System, continues to strive towards an infant mortality rate of zero; and
WHEREAS, the District’s infant mortality rate decreased by 40% between 2006 and 2013.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Infant Mortality Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2016”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia declares the month of September 2016 as “Infant Mortality Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
