The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM) proudly supports the seventh annual celebration of Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), April 11-17.

Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. The week kicks off on April 11, which is globally recognized as International Day for Maternal Health and Rights – an opportunity to join the worldwide community advocating for the elimination of maternal mortality. 

This year’s AAIMM activities for Black Maternal Health Week serve to amplify the voices of Black mamas and birthing persons and center the values and history of the reproductive and birth justice movements.

From Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA):

We are thrilled to reveal the official​ theme for Black Maternal Health Week 2024 (#BMHW24):​ “Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW!” Widespread restrictions on abortion care access coupled with rising cases of criminalization due to pregnancy loss continue to widen the gaps of adverse maternal and birth outcomes in the U.S. Many of the states with the most restrictive abortion bans have the worst maternal and child health outcomes and the least supportive social welfare and family support programs, particularly for Black women and birthing people. The time is NOW to demand for comprehensive public and private insurance coverage for maternal, sexual, and reproductive health care; improve access to care across geographies and birth settings; issue guidance to health care providers, institutions, insurance companies, and related entities on providing equitable, high-quality, patient-centered care; and funding research and programs that center and utilize scholarship of Black women and birthing people, as fully described in BMMA’s comprehensive Policy Agenda.

BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care, as sound, evidence-based solutions. Most importantly, these are practices and solutions that incorporate the true needs, wants, and desires of Black women and birthing people.

AAIMM stands in solidarity with BMMA toward growing the village of support around Black women and birthing persons before, during, and after pregnancy and birth. During BMHW, we will be sharing events from organizations within our network — including those hosted by our AAIMM Community Action Teams — creating social media posts and digital content, and providing information, which will enable us to get closer to our goal of bringing about more equitable birthing outcomes for all women.



Please check this page during the week of April 11-17 for updated event listings and other information, and feel free to share the link with your Village. Follow @blackinfantsandfamiliesla on Instagram for updates and use #BMHW24, and #BlackMaternalHealthWeek to help spread awareness.