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Mrs. Charlene Lugar and Mrs. Susan Bayh Honorary Chairs for New March of Dimes Campaign to Fight Premature Birth
30-Jan-03
New national campaign targeting problem of premature birth to be led in Indiana by wives of Indiana Senators from both sides of the "aisle."

(Indianapolis, IN) The new March of Dimes 5-year, $75-million Prematurity Campaign launched January 30, 2003 in Washington D.C. and will be led in Indiana by Charlene Lugar and Susan Bayh it was announced today.

"We are thankful for their leadership," says Janet Estes, State Director of the Indiana Chapter of the March of Dimes. "Both of these women are dedicated, caring mothers who also dedicate much of their public life to helping children.  They are the perfect leaders for this campaign."

Bayh and Lugar will take part in March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign awareness activities, appear together in public service announcements, and lead the campaign Steering Committee as it works to fight the rising rate of premature birth in Indiana.

The problem:
  • More than 10,000 (about 1 in 8) are born prematurely each year in Indiana
  • The rate of premature birth has increased 19% since 1990; the current rate (2000) is 11.6 percent
  • Nearly half of all premature births have unknown causes
  • Prematurity is the leading  cause of  death in the first month of life
  • 50 percent of babies born early suffer from lifelong health problems


The aims of the campaign are to:

  • Invest in more scientific research to find causes of and interventions for preterm labor
  • Raise public awareness of the problem
  • Educate women of childbearing age about the warning signs of preterm labor
  • Assist health professionals in improving detection of high-risk pregnancies and addressing risk factors
  • Expand access to health insurance to improve prenatal care and infant health outcomes.

Professional organizations committed to supporting the March of Dimes campaign include: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies.  For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site, its Spanish Language Web site, or call 1-888-MODIMES.