SAGINAW, Mich. -- Tough times have forced the Saginaw County Public Health Department to make some cuts.

The maternal infant health program is currently slated to end by Aug. 31. Cynthia Rivers is a proud mom of two. She was not happy to hear that the Saginaw County Health Department is stopping its maternal infant program.

“It is very important,” River said. “Mothers that are having their first child need it so they know what to do.”

The county program helped at-risk mothers during their pregnancy. Some of the services included at-home prenatal care and routine checkups on the mother and child up to age 1.

About 100 women were enrolled in the program that is slated to be terminated Aug. 31.

County officials said it cost $150,000 each year to run the program and claim there were no alternatives available to save it.

Meanwhile, those who still need help have been referred to a similar program at the Janes Street Health Center.

The decision makers said they tried saving the program but there just were not enough funds to continue.

The cuts come even though infant mortality in the city of Saginaw runs above the statewide average.

In the city, 10.2 babies out of every thousand die while statewide the rate is 7.4 per thousand.

The department is helping clients find other options.

Medicare did help reimburse some of the costs of the program, but the money was not enough to cover what the county was paying.