Africa leading in preterm births

By Lilian Museka

Africa has the leading rate of preterm births with 11.9 percent or about four million babies each year from the over 12 million preterm births worldwide.

This was revealed during the first-ever-world prematurity day celebrations on November 14, with the aim of calling on governments to reduce death and disability caused by premature birth.

 “Premature births are higher in Africa and are an enormous problem that is exacting a huge toll emotionally, physically, and financially on families, medical systems and economies,” said Dr.Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, one of the organizations of World Prematurity Day.

Dr. Howse said Preterm birth, birth before 37 weeks gestation, was the leading cause of newborn death, adding that babies who survived an early birth often faced the risk of lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities.

  The March of Dimes, the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants,(EFCNI), representing parents in 20 European countries; Africa-based Little BigSouls International Foundation; and the National Premmie Foundation of Australia are the founding global alliance members of World Prematurity Day. 

“We want to harness the power of social media to encourage governments to give top priority to educating health professionals and women about caring for high-risk pregnancies and premature babies.

  In Nigeria and Ghana, Little Big Souls International Foundation marked World Prematurity Day with its Every Breath Counts campaign and its first ever-charity event, “Walk to Keep a Baby Alive.”