We can do better for babies and moms

Tuesday, December 6th, 2016 8:27pm
(Top row, from left): Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson; Maskwacis Health Centre executive director Randy Littlechild; Dr. Naveen Rao, Lead, Merck for Mothers; Elder Wayne Burnstick; Merck Canada president and managing director
Perinatal mortality rate for Aboriginal babies in Alberta is around seven in every 1,000 births

Alberta Health Services and Merck Canada will develop an initiative aimed at improving access and quality of care for Aboriginal mothers in Maskwacis, Little Red River Cree Nation and inner-city Edmonton.

Merck Canada Inc. will provide a $1-million grant through the Merck for Mothers program, with another $300,000 grant from Alberta Innovates.

The funding will be used for education, peer support in the weeks before and after the birth, as well as improved care co-ordination and evaluation.

Regardless of place of residence, the perinatal mortality rate for Aboriginal women in Alberta is around seven in every 1,000 births, compared to around four in every 1,000 births in the non-Aboriginal population.