Zeta Phi Beta Leads Prematurity Awareness Weekends

In hundreds of congregations throughout America, including in Lake County, the weekends of Nov. 5-6 and 12-13, worshippers will learn about premature birth, an infant health crisis that nearly half a million families cope with each year, thanks to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Members of the sorority will join congregational leaders in sending a message of hope for premature babies and their families.

Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns. In the last 20 years, the problem has become worse. Premature birth affects one in every eight babies in America. The rate is even higher among African-Americans, for whom one baby in every six is affected. It’s a major cause of serious health problems and costs billions of dollars every year.

That’s why the March of Dimes is leading a national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care. As part of that effort, November is designated as Prematurity Awareness Month to remind the community that premature birth is a crisis and to bring people together to help give all babies their nine months.

As a leading March of Dimes community partner Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. was among the first organizations to raise awareness about the consequences of premature birth. They held their first Prematurity Awareness Sunday in 2003 and participation has been growing ever since. This year they’ll be sharing information about the problem, about how women can reduce their risks, and about how to support this effort, from wearing pink and blue to sending letters and raising funds. Resources are available by visiting marchofdimes.com during November, Prematurity Awareness Month, or any time.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes website at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language website at nacersano.org.