Maternal Health Inequalities

Update from Co-Director – Prof Gina Awoko Higginbottom – 8th December 2026

What a great privilege to be invited  by the Cabinet Office to chair the panel discussion on Maternal Health Inequalities, convened by Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, the Race and Equality Engagement Group, and Seema Malhotra, FRSA, Minister for Equalities.

The insights shared by all participants were powerful and thought-provoking, sparking incisive debate on the urgent actions needed to address the persistent disparities facing women and babies across our communities. I am grateful to the panel members Nafiza Anwar , FRCM , FNF Scholar Nicole Lawal Professor Eugene Oteng-Ntim who shared their deep wisdom and knowledge.

After 25 years of researching maternal and neonatal health inequalities, it is clear that progress remains painfully slow. We must accelerate change to ensure equity, safety, and dignity for all mothers and their families.

In the photo – Dr Helen Gbinigie, Neonatologist and Dr Jasmine Leonce, Obstetrician