Too many babies are dying in Mississippi. Almost 10 babies die for every 1,000 born here, and for African American babies, it’s even worse. This is the highest infant death rate the state has seen in over 10 years.

Some hospitals can’t care for very sick or very small babies.

Some moms have to drive hours just to see a doctor.

Some never get care at all.

This isn’t right. Babies shouldn’t die because their moms live far from a hospital or don’t have insurance.

The state’s top health officer, Dr. Daniel Edney, said this is a public health emergency. We agree—but saying it’s an emergency isn’t enough.

We need action.

We call on Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Mississippi State Department of Health to launch a full emergency response.

That means:

• Sending mobile clinics and doctors to areas with no care
• Giving every pregnant mom access to care through phone or video
• Making sure every tiny or sick baby gets fast transport to a hospital that can help

We wouldn’t wait to act if a hurricane was coming. We shouldn’t wait now. Mississippi must act like lives are on the line, because they are.

Photo: WAPT