Illinois is getting $450,000 in federal funds to improve maternal health and reduce the number of women and babies who die during or shortly after pregnancy.
Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth say the Illinois Department of Public Health will use the funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review maternal deaths and find opportunities for prevention.
The U.S. maternal and infant mortality rate has been rising, especially for women and babies of color.
About 72% of Illinois’ pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
