JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Maternal mortality rates in Mississippi are among the highest in the nation.

On Friday, health leaders, advocates and medical professionals gathered at the Hilton Jackson for the 2025 Maternal Health Conference. There were sessions on maternal mortality, maternity care deserts and the implementation of Mississippi’s OB (Obstetrics) System of Care.

Experts said the state’s maternal mortality rate is nearly twice the national average, with Black women disproportionately affected.

“This is significant simply because we have so many infant deaths, and we know that maternal health is important to capture and kind of carry those infant deaths. So, this particular event we try to have every year for our partners, so we can learn from each other and actually learn how to partner so we can decrease these rates in Mississippi,” said Vernesia Wilson, PhD, MPH, Director, Maternal and Infant Death Bureau, Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).

Organizers said the event is one step in a broader push to improve maternal health outcomes in Mississippi. They’re calling for continued collaboration, investment and accountability to ensure no mother is left behind.