New Mexico’s sweeping desert vistas hold an undeniable beauty, but for many communities they also represent something far more challenging: a health care desert.
The March of Dimes defines “maternity care deserts” as any U.S. county without a birthing facility or obstetric clinician. In 2022, more than 2.3 million women of reproductive age lived in such areas. These gaps are especially pronounced in New Mexico’s rural and tribal communities, but even some parts of metro Albuquerque face limited access.
Now in its third year, The University of New Mexico’s Project ECHO Maternal & Child Health program is working to close those gaps by strengthening care throughout pregnancy, birth, and the first year postpartum – a critical period for both mother and baby…