Governor Proclaims World Prematurity Day 2023

WHEREAS, families face serious health risks and March of Dimes fights for their health by supporting research, leading programs, and providing education and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, March of Dimes has developed a collaborative model to study and prevent preterm birth through groundbreaking research at five Prematurity Research Centers, including the University of Chicago-Northwestern-Duke collaborative; and

WHEREAS, March of Dimes is committed to mobilizing the nation by amplifying the voices of pregnant people and families; and

WHEREAS, in North Carolina, March of Dimes has worked extensively to reduce preterm birth by improving access to care through closing the health insurance gap for individuals of reproductive age, eliminating maternity care deserts, expanding group prenatal care, increasing awareness of the impacts of implicit bias on maternal health care, and raising awareness of the importance of optimal preconception health as a strategy to reduce preterm birth, infant mortality, and maternal mortality; and

WHEREAS, March of Dimes is committed to partnering with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to respond to the continued maternal and infant health crisis of prematurity; and

WHEREAS, the month of November is recognized as Prematurity Awareness Month and November 17 is recognized as World Prematurity Day to raise awareness;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 17, 2023, as “WORLD PREMATURITY DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.