(Louisville, KY, September 18, 2002) Dr. Jennifer Howse (pronounced “house”), national president of the March of Dimes, one of the nation’s leading health organizations, will unveil the organization’s new number one initiative at a the statewide Maternal and Child Health Conference in Louisville on Wednesday, September 18, 2002.

The new initiative will focus on research and education programs to reduce the incidence of prematurity, and will officially kick-off nationwide in January of 2003.  Conference attendees will learn the goals of the initiative, the support materials that will be made available, and the role local healthcare professionals can play in counseling women on how to reduce their risk of having a baby born prematurely.

This initiative follows a highly successfully three-year public service campaign by the March of Dimes to increase the number of women taking folic acid to prevent severe birth defects of the brain and spine.  Several communities in Kentucky – including Bowling Green, Pikeville and Owensboro – have received thousands of dollars in funding to support public education programs that have significantly increased awareness among Kentucky women.

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 at www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish Web site at www.nacersano.org, or call 1-888-MODIMES.