Pennsylvania, March of Dimes volunteers are lobbying to raise the awareness of a growing problem in infant death. With 1 in 8 babies prematurely born in the states it's a concern for all affected.
"Prematurity is an issue that impacts everyone," says Dr. Jay Greenspan, Director, Division of Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Vice Chairman and Professor of Pediatrics Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. "People don't realize how common prematurity is and how dangerous it can be. There is nothing harder than to see an infant be so sick and so innocent." Earlier this year, Dr. Greenspan signed on to chair statewide public awareness and professional education initiatives that are focused on preventing premature birth by increasing knowledge about the know risk factors and signs of preterm labour. An advocate for the March of Dimes, Dr. Greenspan also works to encourage additional support to fund research.
Along with the March of Dimes in the Prematurity Awareness Day effort are the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, FedEx and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute.
Johnson & Johnson is a name synonymous with baby shampoo and an emergency substitute for any kinds of oils and lubricants for the kitchen play area. If infant deaths are a concern for the families pay some respect to the shareholders. With fewer babies making it out into the world the company would have a slightly smaller target base for their baby products. Lower numbers at that early stage would inevitably ripple down the line and clear out another generation of purchasers. But drawing such conclusions is the work of the inebriate or extremely cynical and Satan's bitch.
Written on Tuesday, 18 November 2003