User:Annkate

World Prematurity Day is an observance held on the 17th of November. Approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely each year accounting for more than one in 10 of all babies born worldwide. It is estimated that the world’s 39 highest-income countries could cut around 58 000 premature births annually by implementing interventions to prevent preterm births, amounting to roughly US$3.0 billion in economic cost savings. World Prematurity Day aims to raise awareness for prematurity and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide because infants born preterm represent the largest child patient group. World Prematurity day was started in 2011 by the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI), March of Dimes, Africa-based Little Big Souls International Foundation, and the National Premmie Foundation of Australia and has since been taken place in more than 50 countries.

2008
The first meeting of European Parents’ Organisation concerned with prematurity took place in 2008 in Rome, Italy. Representatives of the parents organisations decided to create an awareness day for preterm infants and their families. The 17th of November was chosen because of EFCNI’s founders was born a healthy daughter on 17 November 2008 after having lost his preterm triplets in December 2006.

2009
The first “International Prematurity Awareness Day” is celebrated by the EFCNI and its European partner organisations.

2010
March of Dimes, the African organisation “LittleBigSouls” and the Australian “National Premmie Foundation”, all members of the "World Prematurity Network" joined the celebrations of the second International Prematurity Awareness Day. The awareness day was thus observed outside Europe as well.

2011
"International Prematurity Awareness Day" changes its name to World Prematurity Day. In worldwide activities, parents’ organisations, health care professionals and concerned individuals took part in the celebrations.

2012
World Prematurity Day gains a wide exposure and many countries pledge to take further steps in order to reduce preterm mortality. Malawi, which has one of the world's highest preterm birth rates, wanted to institutionalise kangaroo mother care and provide steroid injections in almost all hospitals. Others, such as India wanted to outfit hospitals better for the care of preterm infants. A variety of events took place to draw public attention to the problem of preterm birth and the simple care that can save many of these babies in countries such as Argentina, Uganda and Indonesia. EFCNI revived its “Socks Line” campaign for World Prematurity Day. The campaign poster featured a socks line and slogan: “One baby in ten is born premature. Worldwide.” and was available in 26 European languages. The hasthag #WorldPrematurityDay proved to be popular on Twitter on the day and was used 17,691 times.

2013
This year’s World Prematurity Day will take place on Sunday, 17th November.