TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and there's a lot you can to to support that cause.
March of Dimes leads the World Prematurity Network to prevent preterm birth and improve care for babies born too soon. According to the organization, premature birth is the No. 1 killer of babies in the United States and the leading cause of death in children under five around the world.
In Florida, one in nine babies are born too soon. Florida got a "C" on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, released earlier this month, with a preterm birth rate of 9.9 percent.
"Our state is not doing as well as we should in preventing premature births. We have a long way to go to reach the March of Dimes goal of reducing the nation's preterm birth rate to 5.5 percent by 2030," said Dr. Karen Harris, March of Dimes Florida Chapter Program Services Committee Chair. "No one is working harder than the March of Dimes to reach that goal so that every baby has a fighting chance and is spared the challenges of an early birth."
Tuesday, November 17 marks the fifth annual World Prematurity Day. Nearly 100 countries and thousands of people take part, going purple in solidarity. You're asked to wear purple in support.
For more information, call (850) 422-3152 or click here.
