SHIPROCK, N.M. – Honoring the sacred role of mothers, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren proclaimed April 18, 2026 as “Maternal Health Awareness Day,” emphasizing the need to protect and prioritize maternal health across the Navajo Nation.
The proclamation highlights that maternal health extends beyond pregnancy and childbirth, encompassing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of women. Across the United States, more than 800 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes, with tens of thousands more experiencing severe complications. More than 80 percent of these deaths are considered preventable with timely and quality care.
American Indian and Alaska Native women continue to face disproportionate risks, with significantly higher rates of maternal mortality. Contributing factors include preventable conditions such as hemorrhage, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and violence. The proclamation also emphasizes that nearly half of maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period, underscoring the need for continued care well after childbirth.
President Nygren’s proclamation calls attention to the importance of early prenatal care, postpartum support, and access to culturally grounded services, including doulas, midwives, and community health representatives. It also highlights the need to expand healthcare access in rural and underserved communities across the Navajo Nation through telehealth, mobile care, and strengthened healthcare infrastructure.
“Every mother deserves respectful, responsive, and culturally appropriate care,” said President Nygren. “By raising awareness and strengthening support systems, we can protect our mothers, our children, and the future of the Navajo Nation.”
The proclamation encourages community members, healthcare providers, leaders, and organizations to work together to improve maternal health outcomes and eliminate preventable maternal deaths across the Nation.
