Infant mortality

Legislation Will Create the Hunter Kelly Research Program at the National Institutes of Health

December 14, 2007 -- Washington, DC—Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today welcomed the Senate’s passage of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, which she introduced along with Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) earlier this year. The measure will create the Hunter Kelly Research Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will continue vital research in improvements to screening technology and treatments.    » read more »

10/25/2007 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen’s infant mortality reduction initiative can count an effective Memphis program among its early successes. The Centering Pregnancy Program is the state’s first group prenatal care program for high-risk women.    » read more »

Governor's strategy to reduce unintended pregnancies, promote infant safe sleep critical to drop in rates

September 24, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that infant mortality rates - especially among the state's African American population - are now the lowest in Michigan history thanks to a concerted effort on the part of state and local entities to combat the problem.    » read more »

08/07/2007 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today the award of a $515,000 grant to the United Ways of Tennessee to assist in the state’s efforts to reduce infant mortality rates and improve birth outcomes throughout the state. Tennessee currently ranks 43rd among all states in the number of children who die before their first birthday, according to the recently released Annie E. Casey 2007 Kids Count report.    » read more »

06 July 2007 -- The World Health Organization and its partners say up to half a million African infants die the day they are born. Health experts say nearly a million babies could be saved in sub-Saharan Africa with a few low-cost interventions.

Among the devices that can save lives are kits that help provide a clean environment for childbirth, a dose of the AIDS drug nevirapine to an infant within three days of birth and resuscitators to help clear a newborn’s lungs and promote breathing.    » read more »