According to the March of Dimes, last year Hawaii was rated as a D+ in its annual report card for pre-term birth rates, infant deaths, state efforts on Medicaid expansion and extension, health insurance status and inadequate prenatal care.

Even before the global pandemic hit, one woman died every 12 hours from pregnancy-related causes, and one in ten babies in Hawaii is born too soon each year. Additionally, more than 50,000 women experience life-threatening complications as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.

Chronic inequities and unequal access to quality health care also have a negative impact on these rates, the report card determined.

To help raise awareness and critical funds for March of Dimes, join in the local movement to make Hawaii a more equitable place and help ensure that every mom and baby is healthy, participate in the “March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement!”

The March for Babies community is fighting for healthy moms and strong babies.

While the fundraiser went virtual in 2020, the shift was actually a natural evolution to transform the event into something bigger. In Hawaii, this movement is for everyone who wants to do more for families — not just today but every day.

The March for Babies walk will be held on Saturday, May 15, statewide on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. Participants are encouraged to walk three miles in their neighborhoods, at their favorite park or at their beach of choice to support physical and mental wellness, provide a safe activity for their families and build strong community engagement.

For more information on March for Babies, including how to sign up, download the event app and start a team, visit marchforbabies.org.

Maui residents can rally with thousands of people across the state in the collective effort to transform the health of all moms and babies.