BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — In honor of National Women’s Health Week, an advocacy group marched from the Louisiana State Capitol to the library pushing for mental and physical wellness resources for mothers.

“Efforts like this help bring awareness and education to folks who may not have gotten it,” said Eugene Collins, former NAACP president and sister of Jessica Collins Ruffin.

Jessica, an expecting mom, passed away about four years ago at seven months pregnant after initially being turned away from the hospital, according to her brother Eugene.

“I got a call from my dad to come back to the hospital. My baby sister wasn’t going to make it,” said Eugene.

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The purpose of Women’s Health Day is to empower ladies to make informed health decisions, prioritize mental health and increase access to insurance benefits for expecting moms.

“80% of the maternal deaths are preventable and the majority of those deaths are Black women,” said Alma Stewart-Allen, president of Louisiana Center for Health Equity.

During a panel discussion, Jessica’s mom received a plaque to honor her fight for doula care and other essential services for mothers.

“We have too many male policymakers deciding what women should and shouldn’t do with their body. And some of those decisions are, in some cases, actually placing women at really risky health situations,” said Eugene.

At the annual event, ladies and gentlemen wore purple representing their passion for women’s rights as they continued their push for mental health services through legislation at the Louisiana State Capitol.

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“We want our moms and babies to survive,” said Stewart-Allen.

The Office of Women’s Health and Community Health (OWHCH) was established in 2022 under a bill passed by the Louisiana Legislature and signed by former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.

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