Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the city’s infant mortality rate remains a major problem especially when looking at racial breakdowns. While speaking to the UW-System Board of Regents, he adds,” There is a two-and-a-half times disparity between Caucasian babies and African-American babies.”
The mayor mentioned in some Milwaukee neighborhoods, the rate of infants who die surpasses third world countries.
However Barrett had some positive news. Along with a United Way partnership there has been progress in reducing the city’s teen pregnancy rate.
Barrett also plugs the city’s partnership with the UW-Milwaukee School of Public Health. He says the joint effort will be essential in tackling the city’s high rates of infant mortality, STD’s, diabetes and asthma.