World Prematurity Day

World Prematurity Day is celebrated every November 17th as a day to raise awareness of the challenges faced by premature babies and the critical need for quality neonatal care. Complications of prematurity are the leading cause of death in the neonatal period. In the Americas region, about 1.2 million births occur prematurely. Premature babies require specialized attention and specific care to enable them to survive, grow and develop healthily.

In the context of this day, powerful stories emerge of families struggling to provide their premature children with the best possible care. PAHO emphasizes that quality care for these babies should not be a privilege but a right that must be guaranteed for all families.