Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers Serve Mothers and Children
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 7, 2007 – The March of Dimes today unveiled the first of three “Mom and Baby Mobile Health Centers” that will bring much-needed medical care to pregnant women, new mothers, and babies in areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
The Mobile Health Centers were paid for with a $3 million gift from the people of Qatar as part of the $100 million Qatar Katrina Fund. The Fund was established by the Amir of Qatar, H.H. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, in September 2005 to provide direct assistance to people and institutions in most dire need in the wake of the storm. The New Orleans Mobile Health Centers will be staffed by the Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans (DCSNO) and partnering agencies of the Partnership for Access to Health Care (PATH) and will begin operations in March. This collaborative effort made possible by the March of Dimes and its partners is unprecedented and unique for the greater New Orleans region and hopefully will be a model for others to follow.
“In the post-hurricane era, building bridges between organizations is vital to bringing together the talent, skills, supplies and energy needed to restore basic services, such as health care,” said Greg Gumbel, a New Orleans native and honorary chairman of the March of Dimes Hurricane Relief Fund. “Until Louisiana gets back on its feet and rebuilds its health care system, these vehicles will bring critical medical care directly to women and their children.”
The March of Dimes worked directly with the Qatar Katrina Fund to design this project. Qatar's Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who personally led the effort to distribute the grant funds, said he “wanted to identify partners who would bring innovative solutions to the enormous problems caused by Hurricane Katrina.” He added: “We are very proud to work with the March of Dimes on this important project. The Qatar Katrina Fund was intended to address urgent needs in health care, education and housing in the areas that were devastated by Katrina. These Mobile Health Centers will provide an immediate improvement in the quality of life in Louisiana. Providing mothers and their babies easy access to health care is an important component of rebuilding communities. The results of this project will be felt for generations."
Even before the hurricanes of 2005 knocked out much of Louisiana's health care system, the preterm birth rate was 25 percent above the national average.
Now, 18 months later, local health services remain overwhelmed and unable to meet the needs of an increasingly poor, uninsured, unemployed and transient population. Pregnant women are arriving in hospital emergency rooms in labor and without having had any prenatal care, doctors and nurses say. Hospitals have seen an increase in premature and low birth weight babies.
Inside, the mobile centers look like a regular healthcare provider's office, with private exam areas, waiting areas, nurses' station and an area to draw blood. They are equipped with fetal monitors, ultrasound, and other equipment and a backup generator.
The handicap accessible centers have bilingual staff, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner or midwife, a nurse, lab technician and an outreach worker. They will serve the New Orleans, and other areas that lack adequate maternal and infant health services. The vehicles will have a fixed schedule at consistent locations each week so services will be dependable and expected. However, the schedule may change as health care providers return to the targeted communities. The Mobile Health Centers will provide about 15,000 visits in three years.
The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For more information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org for Spanish language information.
Contact Information
For all TV/Radio requests:
Todd P. Dezen
(914) 997-4608
TDezen@marchofdimes.com
For all Newspaper requests:
Elizabeth Lynch
(914) 997-4286
ELynch@marchofdimes.com
For all Online and Magazine requests:
Robert Storace
(914) 997-4622
RStorace@marchofdimes.com
For all general media questions:
Chris Iannantuoni
(914) 997-4533
CIannantuoni@marchofdimes.com
Related Links
Media Alert/Photo Opportunity
Qatar Backgrounder
Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans Backgrounder
Partnership for Access to Health Care Backgrounder
March of Dimes Backgrounder
Letter from Embassy of the State of Qatar
Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center Facts
United States Peristats
Louisiana Peristats
Prematurity Campaign Page
Purchase a Pink & Blue Ribbon
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Multimedia
Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center Bus Profile
Mom & Baby Mobile Health Center Bus Floor Plan
Video from Press Conference
Pictures from Press Conference
MARCH OF DIMES LAUNCHES "MOM & BABY MOBILE HEALTH CENTERS" FOR LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 7, 2007 – The March of Dimes today unveiled the first of three “Mom and Baby Mobile Health Centers” that will bring much-needed medical care to pregnant women, new mothers, and babies in areas of Louisiana ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. CBS Sportscaster Greg Gumbel, a New Orleans native, who served as honorary chairman of the March of Dimes Hurricane Assistance Fund, is seen here (9th from right) with staff, volunteers, patients, and public officials who gathered for the event. To his immediate right in the photo is Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. The Mobile Health Centers were paid for with a $3 million gift from the people of Qatar as part of the Qatar Katrina Fund.
GREG GUMBEL HOSTS MARCH OF DIMES "MOM & BABY MOBILE HEALTH CENTERS" LAUNCH.JPG)
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 7, 2007 – CBS Sportscaster Greg Gumbel, a New Orleans native who served as honorary chairman of the March of Dimes Hurricane Assistance Fund, speaking today at the launch of the first of three “Mom and Baby Mobile Health Centers” that will bring much-needed medical care to pregnant women, new mothers, and babies in hurricane-ravaged areas in Louisiana. In the background is Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. The Mobile Health Centers were paid for with a $3 million gift from the people of Qatar as part of the Qatar Katrina Fund.
MARCH OF DIMES BRINGS HEALTH CARE DIRECTLY TO HURRICANE-DEVASTATED GULF COAST
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 7, 2007 – In a ceremony held here today, the March of Dimes unveiled the first of three “Mom and Baby Mobile Health Centers” that will bring much-needed medical care to pregnant women, new mothers, and babies in areas of Louisiana ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Inside, the mobile centers look like a regular healthcare provider's office, with private exam areas, waiting areas, and nurses' station. They are equipped with fetal monitors, ultrasound, and other equipment, as well as a backup generator. The handicap-accessible centers have bilingual staff, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner or midwife, a nurse, lab technician, and an outreach worker. The March of Dimes Mobile Health Centers will be staffed by the Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans and partnering agencies of the Partnership for Access to Health Care, and will begin operations in March. The March of Dimes Mobile Health Centers were paid for with a $3 million gift from the people of Qatar as part of the Qatar Katrina Fund.
