The first time Christy Turlington-Burns, Dr. Rebekah Gee, Jennie Joseph and I got to share the stage together was earlier this year at SXSW in Austin, Texas. The four of us clicked instantly and though Christy had worked with each of us individually, SXSW was the first time we all met.
It was so powerful and inspiring to be back with this dynamic group of women, my fellow maternal health crusaders, to speak at the Louisiana Department of Health’s Maternal Mortality Summit in New Orleans that was put together by Secretary of Health, Dr. Rebekah Gee.
While America has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, more women die in Louisiana than in any other US state.
I moderated a panel on legislative and global best practices to end maternal mortality and morbidity, and also spoke on a panel about changing the narrative around maternal health and mortality in the media, both with Christy Turlington-Burns.
The summit reaffirmed what I already know in my heart- every mother counts, the life of every woman counts, and no mother should die in childbirth- especially in the richest democracy on earth.