Dr. Sharon Thompson, the Medical Director for Black Women’s Health Imperative, joins the In Focus Medical Checkup to discuss Black health and wellness.

The BWHI is the oldest national organization solely dedicated to achieving health equity for Black women in America. Thompson discusses COVID-19 and the disparities for Black women.

According to researchers at Harvard University, COVID-19 death rates are significantly higher among Black American women than among white men. Thompson talks about the barriers for Black women and girls when it comes to health and wellness in general.

According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women in the United States. In New York City, Black women are eight times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related cause. Thompson explains how the BWHI is leading the effort to make optimal health and well-being a reality for all Black women and girls.