Every Kid Counts

Did you know…

• About 3 babies die each day in Ohio (about one baby dies every 8 hours)?
• More than 1,000 Ohio babies died in 2010? This number includes 50 babies in Montgomery County alone.
• For 2010, Ohio’s infant mortality rate is 7.7, essentially unimproved for over a decade.

High infant mortality and associated racial disparities are one of Ohio’s biggest public health challenges. We have a higher rate of dying babies than most other states, all surrounding states, and most developed countries.  Babies don’t need to die, and my colleagues and I at Dayton Children’s want to see all babies live until their first birthday – and well beyond.

That is why, today, we are joining with the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality to Turn Up the Volume about Ohio Infant Mortality. We are participating in a summit in Columbus to learn some strategies from other states to reduce infant deaths.  We know it is going to take the entire community doing thing different and working together – but I know we’re up the the challenge. I’ll have a full report when I return!

Until then, learn more about the issue.