Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:
Amniotic Fluid Embolism Awareness Day
WHEREAS, education and awareness about amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is integral to decreasing our maternal mortality rate in Virginia; and
WHEREAS, AFE is a rare condition with an estimated two to eight cases for every 100,000 births; and
WHEREAS, an AFE is thought to be the result of an allergic-like reaction to the amniotic fluid or fetal cells that have entered the circulatory system during childbirth, a normal part of the birth process; and
WHEREAS, due to the complexity of diagnosing AFE, determining an accurate fatality rate is challenging, however, studies and data suggest that the fatality rate may be as high as 60%; and
WHEREAS, like many other states, Virginia has placed an increasing emphasis on maternal health, recognizing its critical role in overall public well-being; and
WHEREAS, the maternal mortality rate in Virginia according to the most recent 2022 data was 67 deaths per 100,000 cases; and
WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control, the national maternal mortality rate for 2023 was 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 23.3 in 2022 and 32.9 in 2021, the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations; and
WHEREAS, awareness, data collection, and research of AFE will promote an understanding of the disorder, expand the search for an effective treatment, and accelerate the increased number of lives saved; and
WHEREAS, the March 27 observance of AFE Awareness Day provides an opportunity for the citizens of Virginia to join in remembering those lost, encouraging those who have survived and supporting the nonprofit organizations that continue to raise awareness, education, and research;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 27, 2025, as AMNIOTIC FLUID EMBOLISM AWARENESS DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.
