Women’s Wellness and Research Center’s (WWRC) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is joining the international community in marking this year’s World Prematurity Day on November 17 to raise awareness of preterm births and the high quality support that Hamad Medical Corporation’s NICU staff offer to them and their families.
The NICU staff are organising an educational event featuring fun activities and presentation of gifts bags with handmade knit hats made by Doha Stitches to parents and their premature babies. The event is organised by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, nursing, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, pharmacists, case managers and social services.
A video featuring journeys of some preterm babies from day one in the NICU until discharge is being played to inspire parents of newly admitted babies. Staff in each NICU unit are also participating in fun educational activities as well as receiving gifts.
According to the World Health Organisation, every year, an estimated 15mn babies are born preterm, which is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. More than one in 10 babies are born prematurely worldwide.
World Prematurity Day held this year under the theme: “Zero Separation. Act now! Keep parents and babies born too soon together,” helps to raise awareness of preterm births and the cost-effective interventions which can help to address the health issues that could arise due to early births. This includes essential care during childbirth and in the postnatal period for every mother and baby, including antenatal steroid injections, kangaroo mother care, and antibiotics to treat newborn infections.
“The NICU in WWRC is composed of 350 staff nurses, over 60 consultants and specialists neonatologist doctors and multidisciplinary supportive teams like respiratory therapists, each dedicated to care for our fragile babies making sure they are supported in the most caring, developmentally appropriate way while using the advance technology and resources available,” noted, Dr Hilal al-Rifai, acting chief executive officer and medical director of WWRC.
According to Dr Mai al-Qubaisi, acting director of NICU at WWRC, the causes of preterm birth are complex and preterm birth occurs for a variety of reasons. “Most preterm births happen spontaneously, but some are due to early induction of labour or cesarean birth, whether for medical or non-medical reasons. Common causes of preterm birth include multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure; however, often no cause is identified,” she explained.
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