JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi health leaders addressed the ongoing infant mortality crisis during their health meeting on Wednesday.

Mississippi has long faced one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. While the challenge is not new, the meeting emphasized the need for accelerated action.

“The OB systems care that we’ve been working on for the last 18 months is at a point that we we’re ready to move quickly, and a public health emergency helps us do that. And that will be our state’s fourth statewide system of care. It will be the only state in the country with four systems of care, will be the only state in the country that’s taking a comprehensive system of care approach to perinatal mortality issues,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney.

The emergency status allows Mississippi to fast-track key programs aimed at improving perinatal and infant care, expanding access across the state.

Edney emphasized the important of focusing on solutions.

“This is Mississippi leading the way when we are leading the country in infant deaths. But we’re also leading the country and solutions. So, the OB system of care is critically important piece of the puzzle, but also expanding access to care,” he said.