Joseph Isangura
The World Health Assembly has officially designated November 17 as World Prematurity Day, starting in 2025, to bring global attention to the risks and realities faced by premature babies.
The announcement came during the 77th annual session of the Assembly, held in Geneva, and marks the first time the observance will appear on the World Health Organization (WHO) global health calendar. With this move, WHO and its member states hope to build a unified global response to reduce deaths and long-term disabilities associated with preterm birth complications—the leading cause of death in children under five years of age.
Each year, approximately 15 million babies are born before completing the standard gestational period, which places them at higher risk of serious conditions including respiratory distress syndrome, infections, hypothermia, and developmental delays. According to WHO data, more than 1 million premature infants die annually due to complications that could often be prevented with timely, high-quality care.
Speaking on the resolution, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that World Prematurity Day will act as a key moment for “mobilizing political will, investment, and healthcare solutions that save tiny lives.” He added, “We must scale up proven interventions like antenatal corticosteroids, essential newborn care, and support to families to ensure preterm babies not only survive but thrive.”
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The decision is aligned with WHO’s Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030), which aims to improve survival and wellbeing across all stages of life.
What Will World Prematurity Day Promote?
World Prematurity Day will now serve as an international platform to:
- Raise public awareness of the emotional and medical challenges of preterm birth
- Encourage the development of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in underserved regions
- Promote the lifesaving benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a low-cost method that fosters early bonding and thermoregulation
- Support initiatives for family-centred care and community health education
Governments, civil society, and health organizations are being called upon to enhance policy frameworks, invest in maternal and newborn health, and ensure that families, regardless of income or geography, can access lifesaving healthcare services.
