Infant mortality in Ohio is a matter of great concern for policymakers who understand we must give our best effort to reverse alarming trends.

Here, the overall infant mortality rate is 7.1 per 1,000 births (using the most recent data available, from 2022). The national average for that year was 5.6 per 1,000. Even worse, black infants in Ohio are 2.4 times more likely to die than white infants.

“While other states have made significant strides in reducing infant mortality and addressing disparities in birth outcomes, progress in Ohio has stagnated,” wrote the authors of a report by Groundwork Ohio.

What has gone wrong here?

Lawmakers are among those trying to figure it out, and Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, has made a solid decision in appointing state Rep. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, as co-chair of the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality.

This group of government officials, directors or designees from executive agencies, and representatives from Ohio hospital and community-based programs is charged with finding recommendations to improve the rate of infant mortality in the state.

“It is a privilege to serve as co-chair of the Commission on Infant Mortality and support the infants and families of our great state,” said Ritter. “I’m eager to begin this important work and make a difference for Ohio’s most vulnerable.”

Truly, it is essential this group of people are as dedicated to their goal as are those who profess the wellbeing of babies, children and families as their ultimate priority when fighting for other issues.

This commission has been in place for 11 years. The overall infant mortality rate in Ohio in 2014 was 6.8 per 1,000 births. The national rate was 6.0. And since the forming of the commission, Ohio has gotten worse. The U.S. as a whole has made significant improvement.

Ritter is well placed to give this body renewed energy and purpose. He can make a difference. And if the commission gets to work for Ohio’s infants, Ritter and the rest of the commission might well help save lives, too.