World Prematurity Day sees new ward
The city’s first ward allowing parents to stay with their newborn babies will be launched at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center next year. Families with premature babies will be the biggest beneficiaries, the hospital said yesterday, World Prematurity Day.
About 15 million premature babies are delivered in the world annually, about 1.2 million in China. Many of them have to stay in hospital for weeks or even months, separated from their anxious parents.
The new ward will be able to allow parents to stay with babies and care for them.
According to the World Health Organization, premature birth is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. Babies born too early also face long-term health problems.
“About one fourth of children in our department are premature babies and half weigh less than 1,000 grams,” said Dr Bu Jun from the center’s neonatology department. “Over 80 percent of babies with extremely low weight survive nowadays.”
He said medical treatment is only the first step, as there are many long-term challenges and a better system must evolve to provide support and help to children and families.
World Prematurity Day is marked to raise awareness of the issues associated with pre-term birth. It also spreads information about how to help and support affected families.
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