* The QF entity lights up hospital in purple in recognition of premature and sick babies
Sidra Medicine marked World Prematurity Day on 17 November in support of raising awareness about preterm birth. The hospital hosted several information sessions with staff and parents and also lit up its main building in purple, the official color for the observance. World Prematurity Day is observed on 17 November each year to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide.
Dr. Charlotte Tscherning, the Division Chief of Neonatology at Sidra Medicine said:
“Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm each year, accounting for about one in 10 of all babies born worldwide. In addition, premature birth is the leading cause of death globally in children under the age of five. For preterm babies who survive, the additional burden of prematurity-related disability may affect families and health systems. Observing this important day is a major step towards raising awareness, educating families and
healthcare professionals of the milestones and advancements in the field and what we can all do in not only continually improving the quality of care but also saving the lives of preterm babies. We also wanted to acknowledge the role of our own Neonatal ICU staff and their tireless efforts in saving the lives of premature and sick babies at our hospital.”
On 17 November, the NICU team from Sidra Medicine gathered with families whose babies were NICU patients to mark the occasion along with senior leadership, including Mr.
Mohammed Khalid Al Mana, the Managing Director and Member of the Board of Governors at Sidra Medicine and Prof. Ziyad M. Hijazi, Acting Chief Medical Officer.
The agenda included presentations about the challenges of giving complex neonatal care to the babies, along with making sure that the sensorial inputs to the babies are controlled and also supporting the parents to connect with their newborn baby. The day ended with a
walk around the main hospital building with staff and guests sporting purple glow sticks in support of families everywhere.
The program also featured the stories from three mothers, who each shared the journeys of their sick babies and the challenges they overcame. Eme, whose daughter Winifred was born premature last year, shared her experience as a NICU parent and the care that was provided at Sidra Medicine following her daughter’s surgery to treat Short Bowel Syndrome.
Eme said: “Thank you to everyone at Sidra Medicine who took such good care of us. We spent seven months in the NICU ward and we could feel the love and care for our little fighter Winifred. We are truly grateful for the amazing care and for saving her life. There were some very hard and challenging days however the team at Sidra Medicine were wonderful in supporting us every step of the way.”
“Sidra Medicine’s NICU unit is based on global best practice standards taking a patient and family approached to caring for sick babies. We have single family rooms in our NICU wards; we ensure that the mothers spend as much time with the baby (minimizing separation between mother and baby). We also enhance the parent’s role as primary caregivers which studies have proven is essential for brain protection and for supporting the development of very vulnerable newborns,” continued Dr. Tscherning.
Sidra Medicine marked World Prematurity Day on 17 November in support of raising awareness about preterm birth. The hospital hosted several information sessions with staff and parents and also lit up its main building in purple, the official color for the observance. World Prematurity Day is observed on 17 November each year to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families worldwide.
Dr. Charlotte Tscherning, the Division Chief of Neonatology at Sidra Medicine said:
 Dr. Charlotte Tscherning - Div. Chief of Neonatology |
 Baby Winifred at Sidra Medicine NICU |
On 17 November, the NICU team from Sidra Medicine gathered with families whose babies were NICU patients to mark the occasion along with senior leadership, including Mr.
 Baby Winifred and Eme |
The agenda included presentations about the challenges of giving complex neonatal care to the babies, along with making sure that the sensorial inputs to the babies are controlled and also supporting the parents to connect with their newborn baby. The day ended with a
 One year old Winifred |
The program also featured the stories from three mothers, who each shared the journeys of their sick babies and the challenges they overcame. Eme, whose daughter Winifred was born premature last year, shared her experience as a NICU parent and the care that was provided at Sidra Medicine following her daughter’s surgery to treat Short Bowel Syndrome.
Eme said: “Thank you to everyone at Sidra Medicine who took such good care of us. We spent seven months in the NICU ward and we could feel the love and care for our little fighter Winifred. We are truly grateful for the amazing care and for saving her life. There were some very hard and challenging days however the team at Sidra Medicine were wonderful in supporting us every step of the way.”
“Sidra Medicine’s NICU unit is based on global best practice standards taking a patient and family approached to caring for sick babies. We have single family rooms in our NICU wards; we ensure that the mothers spend as much time with the baby (minimizing separation between mother and baby). We also enhance the parent’s role as primary caregivers which studies have proven is essential for brain protection and for supporting the development of very vulnerable newborns,” continued Dr. Tscherning.
