The Empire State Building towers will light purple today in honor of the 6th annual World Prematurity Day (WPD) tomorrow. Parent groups and organizations worldwide join together on WPD to raise awareness of the serious problem of premature birth.
Premature birth -- before 37 weeks of pregnancy -- is the #1 killer of babies in the United States. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk for lifelong disabilities including breathing problems, vision loss, cerebral palsy, and intellectual delays. About 15 million babies worldwide are born prematurely each year, and one million of them die before their first birthdays.
The March of Dimes leads the World Prematurity Network, (WPN), a global coalition of consumer and parent groups working together to raise awareness and prevent premature birth in their countries. Through World Prematurity Day and other joint efforts, members call for action to prevent preterm birth and improve care for babies born too soon. Nearly 100 countries participated in World Prematurity Day last year with building and landmark lightings, outdoor events, petitions, and other demonstrations of support.
Learn more about what you can do to help, and show you care about premature babies at facebook.com/WorldPrematurityDay. Special thanks to the Empire State Building for supporting 2016 World Prematurity Day.
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