WASHINGTON-The Office of Minority Health in the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services will announce a new documentary by bestselling author, award-winning television producer and campaign spokesperson Tonya Lewis Lee.  Lee, the wife of film producer, Spike Lee, produced the documentary with HHS to raise awareness about the high infant mortality rates in African American communities.

 

WHO:   Tonya Lewis Lee, author, filmmaker, and Healthy Baby spokesperson

             Jeff Johnson, television and radio commentator

             Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health, HHS
             Dr. Garth Graham, deputy assistant secretary for minority health

             Congressman Steve Cohen

 

WHAT:  Launch of new documentary to raise awareness of Infant Mortality

 

WHEN:  Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 12 Noon. 

 

WHERE:  The National Press Club, First Amendment Room

                  529 14th St NW, 13th Floor,

                  Washington, DC 20045

 

This 30-minute video documents the HHS/OMH “A Healthy Baby Begins with You” peer education campaign on infant mortality and preconception health.  The program utilizes college students to speak about everyday healthy living to male and female students well before they think about bringing pregnancy and children into their lives. 

 

The video follows the students and their mentors in school, after-school, hospital and community settings in Memphis and Atlanta and shows infant mortality as a community-wide as well as personal issue. 

 

Video producer and spokesperson Tonya Lewis Lee, television and radio commentator Jeff Johnson, and OMH Director Garth Graham, will talk about the issues and encourage schools and students to participate in the program.   OMH will be joined by national organizations involved in National Infant Mortality Awareness Month (September) and other HHS agencies.