Healthy Mama Festival and Diaper Bag Giveaway

Equality Health Foundation, in collaboration with the March of Dimes, the leading organization fighting for the health of moms and babies, and premier sponsor Mercy Care, is pleased to announce the inaugural Healthy Mama Festival and Diaper Bag Giveaway happening on Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in South Phoenix. This free event is dedicated to promoting health and well-being education for all mothers, soon-to-be mothers and their children.

In addition to the 1,000 diaper bags filled with mom and baby resources, event attendees will benefit from a variety of maternal health and well-child educational activities. Medical screenings including free vaccines for adults and children, flu shots, and mammogram screenings will be available, as well as OB/Gyn meet and greets. March of Dimes’ newly-launched Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center® will be on site to provide hypertension screening and maternal and infant health information.

In Arizona, approximately 71 pregnant or birthing persons died within 365 days of pregnancy during a one-year survey period, of which 87% per year were preventable on average, reported Arizona’s Department of Health Services. National rates of maternal mortality have steadily increased over the last decade, indicating a need for national, state and local efforts to improve maternal health outcomes. Maternal death rates have consistently been the highest among Black women. These outcomes can be attributed to a range of factors, including social determinants of health such as financial, housing, transportation and food security, which have a direct impact on the accessibility of affordable, high quality and coordinated maternal health care.

Equality Health Foundation, a local Valley nonprofit with a mission to level the healthcare playing field in culturally diverse and underserved communities, is thrilled to partner with the March of Dimes and Mercy Care in this well-being initiative. Equality Health Foundation works to expand access to whole-person care, accelerate health education, and eliminate healthcare inequalities for all.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit equalityhealthfoundation.org.