Mediclinic Medforum marks World Prematurity Day

Posted on 17 November 2016

As Mediclinic Medforum in Pretoria marks World Prematurity Day, we speak to the hospital’s multidisciplinary team about premature birth and the many misconceptions surrounding it.

Commemorated on 17 November each year, World Prematurity Day aims to raise community awareness about the prevention of premature (preemie) births as well as the short- and long-term care of preterm babies. At Mediclinic Medforum, the event brings together parents of preemies, the surrounding community and the hospital staff who work to ensure that preterm babies – those born any time before 37 weeks of pregnancy – receive the best possible care.

Commemorating World Prematurity Day

‘Prematurity happens quite often, yet many local communities are unaware of how to deal with it,’ says Dr Katya De Campos, a paediatrician at Mediclinic Medforum. ‘At Mediclinic Medforum, we generally have at least one preemie born every one to two weeks. The most important thing to raise awareness about is that prematurity is sometimes preventable through good antenatal care administered through regular visits to a obstetrician and gynecologist during pregnancy to identify and manage risks. It’s also important for parents to understand that a premature baby is not automatically sick or disabled.’

Sister Prudence Bvuma, a senior professional nurse in the fully equipped neonatal ICU at Mediclinic Medforum, agrees. ‘We need to make people aware that many premature babies survive, because many people think it’s a death sentence.’

The day also serves as an affirmation for the work the nurses are doing in the ward. ‘We get to be in a happy environment and see how well the babies are doing and it’s very encouraging,’ Sister Bvuma adds.

That’s not to say there aren’t significant challenges faced by premature babies and their parents. The day will also include talks by Mediclinic Medforum’s multidisciplinary team that works together to limit and monitor the risks posed to premature babies. This team includes nurses, paediatricians, physiotherapists and audiologists.