Prematurity Awareness Activities and Observances
Northern Indiana Division
During November – Prematurity Awareness Month – Indiana Sending a Message of Hope for Premature Babies
The March of Dimes has designated November as Prematurity Awareness Month - to send the alert that premature birth is a crisis in our country and to bring people together to help give all babies their 9 months. (http://www.marchofdimes.com/indiana/6185_15859.asp)
Babies are in crisis today. Nearly half a million are born prematurely every year and the number is rising. Across Indiana the March of Dimes is organizing events raise awareness as part of its national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care.
Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns and a major cause of serious health problems. It costs society billions of dollars every year. Here in Indiana, more than 10,600 babies are born prematurely each year, about 1 in 8. Activities across Northern Indiana include:
October 28 and 29--Prematurity Awareness Month Kick-Off: Women’s Fest at South Bend Century Center.
November 1 – Nov. 31—Wendy’s Restaurants in Michiana is including prematurity awareness information on tray liners in their restaurants.
November 14th – There will be a Prematurity Roll at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
HR group (SHRM) luncheon in South Bend will include information about the prematurity campaign.
November 15th— WSBT, WNDU & WSJV news anchors wearing pink & blue.
November 15th Memorial Hospital is hosting a NICU Family Reunion in conjunction with the Roll call
March of Dimes volunteers will conduct an email forwarding campaign on November 15th with prematurity prevention information and where to turn for help. We hope that the speed of electronic communication will bring a swift rise in those who know about the problem of prematurity and what they can do to prevent it.
|
