The 3rd Annual Latina Maternal Health Fair was recently held at Cal State Bakersfield, offering families who are expecting a child with the opportunity to educate themselves on their health. Kern County, with its large Latino community, is unfortunately a place where many women have experienced pregnancy-related complications. ‘Save a Mom Save a Family’, a nonprofit organization, has been working for the third year to provide resources that were previously lacking, especially for families who have suffered a loss.
Co-Founder Michele Monserratt-Ramos expressed the organization’s commitment to bringing resources to families in Kern County and seeking accountability for preventable tragedies involving young mothers and babies. Families who have experienced traumatic losses have called for improvements in the healthcare system, leading to a successful campaign to have the month of May recognized for maternal health awareness both locally and statewide. The nonprofit has been advocating for accountability by filing medical board complaints in cases involving maternal negligence.
One such case involved a Bakersfield OBGYN who was disciplined by the California Medical Board for prescribing pain medication to a pregnant woman who died in 2020. The ‘Bakersfield Families Call to Action’ campaign was initiated to raise awareness of maternal negligence and empower families to advocate for themselves. The event at Cal State Bakersfield also featured guest speakers, including Kern County Board of Supervisor Leticia Perez, who shared her personal experiences with maternal health issues and the lack of information available in the past.
Perez disclosed her own struggles with miscarriages and pregnancy-related complications, highlighting the importance of discussing Latina Maternal Health issues to prevent avoidable tragedies. The event at Cal State Bakersfield provided a platform for families, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to come together and work towards improving maternal health outcomes for Latina women in Kern County and beyond.
