In commemoration of the World Prematurity Day 2019 which is observed on 17 November 2019 every year, the Friends of Breastfeeding Association of the Health Education Department at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, in cooperation with Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children, honored 20 mothers of premature babies at the hospital, in addition to organizing awareness-raising events.

The event aims to raise community awareness about premature birth and its causes and the role of families in curbing preterm-associated complications.

The Event was attended by Dr. Safia Al Khaja, Director General of Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children, Dr. Mona Abdullah Khalaf, Head of Intensive Care Unit for Newborns and Premature Babies, in attendance of 100 person as well as staff and volunteers of the Friends of Breastfeeding Association.

The activities featured a workshop on what kind of care preterm babies need, an educational lecture on the importance of breastfeeding, in the presence of Mama Noura, the mascot of the association who welcomed and handed out gifts for mothers.

The Optimal Way to Save Children's Lives

Eng. Khawla Al Noman emphasized the Association’s keenness on marking the World Prematurity Day to spread awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for premature babies as the optimal way to save their lives and ensure that they are healthy.

“The participation reflects the visions and directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in terms of exerting further efforts to improve the physical health for mothers and children,” Al Noman noted.

She added: “Recent statistics show that some 15 million preterm infants are born each year globally and that more than one million children die each year from premature birth. These numbers were the Association’s key driver to mark this day in order to enhance community awareness about how to deal with premature babies and the need to follow up on their growth, as well as to guide mothers and educate them on the importance of breastfeeding children in general and preterm infants in particular.”

Dr. Safia Al-Khaja, Director General of Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children, pointed out the importance of this initiative, which contributes significantly in educating mothers and encouraging them to care for their children. And infections.

Dr. Al-Khaja confirmed that the hospital administration supports the premature babies and their families, especially with regard to breastfeeding, during the first 6 hours of the birth of the premature baby, where the mother is taught how to breastfeed, in addition to sending the child to intensive care

Elevating Community Awareness

For her part, Dr. Mona Khalaf welcomed the Association’s initiative, pointing to the importance of elevating community awareness about premature babies, as this is the best way to reduce mortality among premature babies and avoid possible fetal health problems associated with premature birth, such as respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, jaundice, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, learning disabilities, and other health problems.

Khalaf highlighted the key role of Al Qassimi Hospital for Women & Children in preventing complications of premature births and the resulting physical and mental disabilities, pointing to the capabilities, devices and advanced technologies available in the hospital, which significantly contributed to raising the rate of child survival through the implementation of best international practices.

Awareness Workshop

Nisreen Nimr, a breastfeeding specialist at the Association, delivered an awareness lecture on the importance of breastfeeding for premature babies, during which she highlighted the importance of breastfeeding for premature babies to stimulate and complete the growth of their hearts and brains naturally, adding that international studies revealed that improving the rates of breastfeeding can save the lives of about 820,000 children a year around the world.