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2008 Update of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign
In late 2001, the March of Dimes identified premature birth as the single most important issue negatively impacting the health of newborns, and determined to launch a major campaign to re-energize interest, research and progress in the field. After an 18-month planning process in consultation with the Board of Trustees, the March of Dimes launched its national Prematurity Campaign at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2003.
The Campaign began with two goals. First, recognizing that public support is necessary to drive political change and financial support, the March of Dimes set a goal to raise public awareness that premature birth is a serious public health problem. This goal would need to be achieved first and relatively quickly in order to help mobilize policymakers, researchers, volunteers and others behind the second goal of reducing the nation’s prematurity rate.   This second goal would require sustained progress in the research lab and in health care settings nationwide. It would clearly be the more difficult goal and would take longer to achieve.   Recently, the March of Dimes has extended the Prematurity Campaign to 2020, and asked that we continue to search for the causes of preterm birth and the means to prevent it. Until we are successful, more than 500,000 babies each year will continue to be born too soon with risk of lifelong health and developmental problems.