ALERT: March of Dimes Colors Canal Purple for Prematurity Awareness after Press Conference to Announce
Indiana’s Prematurity Grade
State Health Commissioner, Marion County Health Department Leadership, Doctors, Nurses and Community Leaders to Speak to Problem on November 12th at 10:00am on Downtown Canal. 
Premature children to color canal purple at 10:30am.

What: Indiana’s Prematurity Report Card Release and Press Conference followed by dying canal purple.

When: November 12, 2008
• Report Card release and Press Conference at 10:00am.
• Canal dyed purple at 10:30am at 11th Street Canal pump station.

Where: Canal between 10th and 11th Streets

Who: Dr. Judy Monroe, Dr. Virginia Caine, Dr. James Nocon, Dr. Phil Eskew, Dr. Lauren Dungy-Poythress, March of Dimes State Director Tanya Hand and mission-affected families.

Why: Indiana is receiving an ‘F’, a failing grade, from the March of Dimes because it ranks 37th highest in the nation for prematurity rate.  The issues the March of Dimes wants addressed are the number of women smoking, the availability of health insurance, and the increasing number of early and elective C-sections.  (See attached report card for more.)

How: There are community programs funded by the March of Dimes, the State Department of Health, Marion County Health Department and hospital partners set up to address these issues.  The March of Dimes hopes the report card in conjunction with awareness activities in November will increase the public’s knowledge and access of these programs.

For more information on prematurity and what can be done to help reduce prematurity rates, visit marchofdimes.com/prematurity.