Globally, 15 million babies are born premature each year. Prematurity does not discriminate – it affects parents of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations and economic circumstances. For the families of these babies, it can be a very challenging and often life-changing journey that can have a long lasting impact.
On 17 November – World Prematurity Day, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation (LLTF) will be part of the global movement to help raise awareness for preterm birth. And while this day is about informing and educating the wider community, it is also about celebrating the little treasures within our own community who have graduated from neonatal units to eventually go home with their families, and honouring those babies born too early to survive.
Ultimately, this day is about community – about coming together in solidarity to educate, celebrate and honour the 26,000 babies born preterm in Australia each year.
Activities
This year, LLTF has various activities planned to celebrate World Prematurity Day within our community. These include:
– World Prematurity Day badges and information letters sent to 70 politicians to start the conversation for more support for families impacted by prematurity
– hosting NICU Connections morning teas at The Mercy Hospital, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash Children’s Hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Adelaide’s Womens and Childrens Hospital to support those families currently in the NICU and Special Care Nursery
– collaborating with other key organisations in a ‘Light It Up Purple’ campaign that encourages buildings and landmarks to light up purple to raise awareness within the broader community
– encouraging schools to host a ‘Wear Purple for Prems’ day to raise awareness and funds for families of premature babies
World Prematurity Day. A day of change.
Whether you are a parent organisation, hospital, non-profit organisation, healthcare professional, society, company, politician, media or an individual, we warmly invite you all to join us as together we celebrate this day through activities and events to help raise awareness and influence change.
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