Singer and presenter Rochelle Humes is being showered with support after sharing a heartbreaking post about death during pregnancy and childbirth on Instagram.
The mum-of-three shared an update on a new documentary she's making, which looks into the disgusting statistics around black women dying during childbirth and pregnancy.
Posting on the social media platform, she wrote: "Hey gang...I’m currently making an investigative documentary, looking behind the shocking statistics that in the UK, black women die during pregnancy, childbirth, and shortly after - at a rate of more than four times that of white women.
"I want to find out why this is, and have met some incredibly brave women as part of my investigation into what’s going on. This is a very difficult and sensitive issue, but I think in order to make a change it’s really important to give a voice to families that have lost loved ones in this nature.
"I’m hoping in making this film, it leads to tangible changes and solid commitments to bringing these rates down... that’s my goal."
Rochelle has been met with bucket-loads of support from her followers - with many of her celebrity pals full of praise for what she's doing.
TV doctor Zoe Williams said: "Oh Roch I can’t wait to see this. The statistics are horrendous and I have to say that working in the NHS we see it and feel it. This issue needs to be brought to everyone’s attention and I’m sure many will find the stories shocking!"
Katie Piper replied: "Sounds really interesting - looking forward to watching it."
"Good god ! That’s utterly shocking! I look forward to watching it and finding out more," wrote Nadia Sawalha.
Singer Paloma Faith commented: "What a brilliant thing to bring to light! Good luck angel wing."
Last year the Joint Committee on Human Rights document revealed that black women are at the "highest risk" of death during childbirth, and are five times more likely to die during this time than white women.
The document said: "The NHS acknowledge and regret this disparity," concluding the government must introduce "a target to end the disparity in maternal mortality".
A new report by MBRRACE-UK shows the divide has now narrowed slightly, but black women are still four times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than white women - a statistic that is simply unacceptable.
Lead author, Prof Marian Knight, said: "The drop to a fourfold difference should not be a reason to lessen our efforts at a time when addressing these inequalities among pregnant women and new mothers should be a priority.
"The rate of deaths among white women has gone up by a tiny amount and the rate of black women has come down a little but neither of these are statistically significant changes because the overall rates are low.”
Professor Maggie Rae, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: "This year’s coronavirus pandemic has brought this disparity even more starkly to the fore, and we must not lose sight of the actions that are required to address systemic biases that impact on the care we provide for ethnic minority women."
