For Units to Hold Hearings on Infant Mortality Rates

WHEREAS, it has been reported that babies of African descent have a higher mortality rate than white infants; and

WHEREAS, the reasons for the high infant mortality rates in this nation have not been conclusively identified; and

WHEREAS, experts feel that factors contributing to high black infant mortality rate may include a number of causes such as unrecognized poverty; lack of education for the parents; less prenatal care than whites; and high risk factors associated with living in improvised communities; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP can convene public forums to receive testimony from health care professionals, public health officials, and black parents concerning infant mortality; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National NAACP Health Committee established a special unit to work with state conferences and local units to receive testimony; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its current policies on care of women and children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP uses information to develop recommendations for resolving the problem of high infant mortality of African American and other minority babies in this country; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Federal and State governments are called upon to reauthorize and fully fund SCHIP programs in all states; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that these units submit this information to the National office for review and to make recommendations to Congress for resolving the problem of high infant mortality for African American babies in this nation and throughout other minority communities.