March 20, 2025
Virginia Union College is the primary HBCU to supply two doula programs.
Virginia Union College introduced the launch of a brand new doula certification program, making it the primary traditionally Black faculty or college in Virginia to supply such a program.
The non-public establishment is partnering with the Virginia Board of Well being and Start in Colour, a reproductive well being advocacy and schooling group. The announcement was made throughout a press convention on March 18.
Start in Colour was based by Kenda Sutton-El, who attended the occasion and praised VUU’s dedication to advancing Black maternal well being.
“Anywhere might create their very own doula program, however why not give again to the group that truly created the attention round doulas, that truly created the attention round Black maternal well being, and truly use us as a partnership?” Sutton-El mentioned. “That speaks volumes concerning the character of Virginia Union.”
Sutton-El additionally highlighted the vital want for doulas, particularly inside Black communities, as a part of addressing maternal well being disparities.
“Folks really feel much more comfy speaking to individuals who appear like them in relation to something health-related,” she mentioned. “And what we do see is numerous medical doctors truly thank us as a result of we’re giving them data that they might not have been in a position to get from the affected person.”
Based on the Virginia Division of Well being, Black girls in Virginia are greater than twice as prone to die from pregnancy-related causes in comparison with white girls. The disparity is a part of a broader nationwide development during which Black girls expertise considerably larger maternal mortality charges. Efforts like VUU’s doula program intention to increase culturally competent care and scale back these alarming statistics.
Based on the Virginia Maternal Mortality Overview Workforce’s 2024 Annual Report, the variety of pregnancy-associated deaths in Virginia rose from 64 in 2021 to 67 in 2022, with the speed rising from 66.9 to 70.1 per 100,000 stay births.
These statistics underscore the vital want for culturally competent care to handle maternal well being disparities within the state. Initiatives like Virginia Union College’s doula certification program intention to increase care and enhance outcomes for Black moms.
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