01 May City of Ottawa – April Proclaimed as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month

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Throughout April, Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network worked to have the city of Ottawa declare April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month. This initiative involved raising awareness and tackling the obstacles encountered by Black mothers and individuals in accessing adequate maternal and reproductive healthcare.

Designating April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month serves to illuminate the barriers and disparities present within Canada’s healthcare system. These challenges include inadequate data collection on health risks, incidents of medical racism, and the lack of tailored support for Black communities facing reproductive difficulties.

By officially recognizing April as Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month, we take a significant step toward addressing systemic inequity within our healthcare system. Advocacy efforts at all levels of government are crucial to enhancing pregnancy and postpartum outcomes for Black individuals.

We are proud to announce that, thanks to our efforts, April 2024 has been declared the inaugural Canadian Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice Month in Ottawa. This marks a pivotal first step towards our mission of extending this proclamation nationwide and implementing concrete measures and support systems to assist Black families where disparities exist.