COLUMBUS, Ohio — In Franklin County, two to three babies die before the age of one every week, according to Columbus Public Health. And the infant mortality rate for black babies is 2.5 times that of white babies in Franklin County.
To fight against infant mortality, Columbus Public Health teams up with CelebrateOne to host Stroller Socials, led by doctors in communities across the city.
The need for these services doesn’t stop for a pandemic but because of concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the Stroller Socials have turned virtual.
Now, the program incorporates more virtual phone or video phone calls with moms and dads to check in and see if they have what they need, while also continuing to deliver essential items they may need safely, according to Sarah Posten, neighborhood integration manager for CelebrateOne.
“We want to make sure that not only our mom and dad and baby are being safe, we want to keep ourselves safe as well so that, you know, no contact, continuously checking in on them, making sure they have everything they need, including masks for adults and making sure they’re washing their hands and keeping social distancing as well,” Posten said.
10TV talked with Montana Bogan, who participated in the Stroller Socials with her first child.
Now, with her second child, things may look different but Bogan told 10TV the program is absolutely amazing.
“They’re just so helpful,” she said. “It gets me choked up sometimes but I just love how they give you those incentives and it’s actually things that you need for your kids and for you personally and then just the exercise helps with the mental [health] so it’s really; it’s really awesome.”
It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that pregnant women should get 150 minutes of exercise each week.
Walking with the Stroller Socials is a great way to achieve that goal, according to Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Columbus Health Commissioner.
But because pregnant women are at an increased risk for infection, according to Dr. Roberts, she urges those participating to continue to take steps to protect themselves:
- Practice social distancing
- Continue hand washing
- Adults should continue wearing a face covering
For more information on the virtual Stroller Socials and CelebrateOne, click here.