Skipping Maternal Death Data Puts Black Lives at Risk

In Texas, where the maternal mortality crisis has long reflected systemic neglect and racial inequities, the decision by the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) to skip analyzing maternal death data from 2022 and 2023 is nothing short of an injustice.  

At The Afiya Center, we are enraged and deeply grieved by this decision, which feels like a direct attack on the lives and deaths of Black birthing people, those who have already been failed by a system rooted in racism and medical neglect. CDC expresses that “Black womxn are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white womxn” an unfortunate statistic that is deeply rooted in systemic racism, lack of access to quality care, and medical bias. In Texas, these disparities are even starker, particularly for those navigating maternity in rural areas or overwhelming healthcare policies. The state’s choice to not review two years of maternal death reviews is a slap in the face to those of us fighting tirelessly for justice.  

By refusing to acknowledge this data, we believe that the state has chosen to deny the voices of the Black mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends who have been lost to preventable deaths.  

 How can we address this crisis if we refuse to examine the evidence? These lives matter, and their stories matter. Silence is complicit. 

At The Afiya Center, we will not let this inequality stand. The MMMRC must reverse this decision and prioritize the review of maternal deaths from 2022 and 2023. Without a complete understanding of what is happening in our communities, we cannot hope to save lives. We call on all Texas lawmakers, healthcare providers, and every person who values equity and justice  to stand with us in demanding transparency and accountability. 

Black-born people's lives are not expendable. Their deaths must not be ignored or erased. We owe it to those we have lost to fight for a future where maternal health outcomes are no longer managed through  by race or socioeconomic status. 

The Afiya Center was created to advocate for Black womxn and girls and to hold systems accountable for the harm they inflict on our communities. Let your voice be heard. Together, we can demand accountability and change our communities so desperately. 

Sattie Zapata- Nyachwaya

Secretary, Board of Directors