"The disparity between the richest and poorest infants in D.C. is striking," said Bina Valsangaar about the District's infant mortality rates.
Valsangaar is a newborn technical adviser with Save the Children, an international advocacy organization that released their Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) report Monday.
The report highlights the gap between D.C.'s wealthiest and poorest wards. In Ward 3 in NW, the IMR in 2012 was 1.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. In Ward 8 in SE, the rate was 14.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2012.
D.C.'s overall IMR in 2012, which are the most recent figures, was 7.9 per 1,000 live births. The nation's capital ranked last on a list of 25 wealthy capital cities around the world.
For the most part, other counties around the DMV fared better, according to Save the Children. In Virginia, based on 2012 numbers, Arlington County saw a 3.8 IMR.
In Fairfax County it was 4.9 for Caucasian babies, though African-American babies were twice more likely to die before their first birthday.
In Loudoun County, the 2012 IMR was 3.9, while African-American babies were three times more likely than Caucasian babies to die before their first birthday.
Based on 2013 numbers in Maryland, Montgomery County had a 4.7 IMR, with African-American babies four times more likely than Caucasian babies to die before their first birthday.
In Prince George's County, it was 7.8 with African-American babies three times more likely than Latino babies to die before their first birthday.
"The District over the last 15 years has cut infant mortality in half. That's commendable. What has persisted is the gap [between wealthy and poor wards]. It's stubborn, it has stuck around," said Valsangaar.
She stressed that the gap is not just an indication of the health disparity but also the economic disparity in D.C. Infant Mortality Rates are ultimately about poverty and its symptoms.
"Inadequate access to health care services, nutrition, education for men and women, access to family planning," are just some of the resources Valsangaar said elude poverty stricken communities.
Theresa Strickland had a baby in SE two years ago. She struggled to pay rent and receive proper care. Strickland said she did not begin receiving pre-natal care until she was four months pregnant.
"They have resources out here but it really doesn't help. They only pay a certain proportion but there's no rent control. Housing is really, really bad out here," explained Strickland.
"As far as Medicaid and WICK and stuff - it was a process to go through but I eventually got it," recalled Shade Pugh, a mother of a three-year-old in SE.
Looking around her neighborhood, she considers herself lucky.
"I had a lot of help from my mom and my family," said Pugh. "It was very important, it played a big role in the success."
Overall, the District has made progress in lowering its IMR. Valsangaar credits public-private programs from health departments, churches, non-profits and other community-based organizations. It's progress, but the nation's capital still has a long way to go.
Valsangaar said, "When we look at the rates we see a tale of two cities but in reality we don't live in two cities, we live in one city."
