Doha 25th November 2020: In an initiative led by Hamad Medical Corporation, the iconic Torch Hotel, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Al Wakra Hospital’s main entrance were lit up in purple on 17th November, World Prematurity Day, to raise awareness of premature births and to show compassion and support for patients and families of babies born a little too soon.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, an estimated 15 million babies (one in 10) are born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of gestation), and this number is rising. The world health body says preterm birth occurs for a variety of reasons. Most preterm births happen spontaneously, but some are due to early induction of labor or caesarean birth, whether for medical or non-medical reasons. Common causes of preterm birth include multiple pregnancies, infections and chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure; however, often no cause is identified. There could also be a genetic influence.
This year’s theme, “Together for babies born too soon…caring for the future”, highlighted the significant impact of healthcare professionals, organizations and communities working together to improve the outcome for preterm babies and their families.
Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) across Hamad Medical Corporation recognized this day as premature babies are their core patient group. NICU staff from Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC) and Al Wakra Hospital organized events featuring staff donning purple shirts and masks as a symbol of the day which stands for sensitivity and exceptionality. In WWRC’s NICU alone, around 50 percent of a total of 2540 admissions last year were babies born prematurely.
WWRC’s NICU staff observed the day with poster displays and video clips of mothers of premature babies sharing their babies’ journey through NICU. One of the mothers, Ms. Nilushika Jayangani Weerasekera, who was diagnosed with COVID-19, expressed her gratitude to WWRC’s NICU team for taking care of her preterm son and the staff of Hazm Mubarak Hospital for their support throughout her hospital stay. “My son was due in November but was delivered prematurely in August. This was because I was unfortunately diagnosed with COVID-19 and I had severe pneumonia and needed intubation. So, my baby had to be born early in order to save him and prevent complications,” the mother recalls.
Ms. Weerasekera describes the time away from her baby as ‘a difficult moment’ as she and her husband were unable to see him until after one month because both were sick with COVID-19. “Because I contracted COVID-19, I was admitted and intubated at Hazm Mubarak Hospital while the baby was in the NICU. So, one month after when I had fully recovered from COVID-19, I went to see my baby at the NICU.”
“I felt excited to see him for the first time and thankful to the NICU staff at WWRC for looking after him very well and for welcoming me warmly during that first visit. I am also grateful for their support throughout his stay at the NICU. It’s obvious to me that the NICU staff understood what I had gone through by making me feel comfortable and loved. I am also thankful to the mum who volunteered to donate her breastmilk to my son when I was unable to breastfeed him. I can’t thank her enough for her selfless love and generosity,” she adds.
Dr. Hilal Al Rifai, A/Chief Executive and Medical Director of WWRC states, “HMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care has made great progress in the management of premature babies and delivered the best possible outcomes which have put Qatar at the forefront of the world in achieving record top level survival. The NICU tertiary center, when in its previous home at Women’s Hospital, won the Managing Director’s award at the Star of Excellence awards in 2015 for its great advances in the care of premature babies and the establishment of the Tiny Baby Unit. This is in addition to the success of the “Golden Hour” program which focuses on delivering the best expert multidisciplinary resuscitation and stabilization with outstanding great success in the management of premature babies.”
Dr. Al Rifai notes that the achievements of the NIUC wouldn’t have been possible without the support from Qatar’s leadership and the Minister of Public Health, Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari. “The generosity and care for the humanity by the State of Qatar has made this service for pre-term births in Qatar completely free of charge for all residents and citizens,” he adds.
Dr. Nawal Magzoub, Pediatric Consultant, Critical Care, WWRC’s NICU mentions that to ensure current and past moms as well as the families of preemies receive well-rounded support and encouragement every step of the way, a support group of preemies’ parents called Sanadk, led by a small multidisciplinary committee comprising physicians, psychologists, social workers and lactation consultants, has been inaugurated in Qatar. Members of the group meet regularly to offer support to new mums and share their experiences, she notes.
