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- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that once again I am among you and address a beautiful event such as today's lighting of the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, in view of the World Day of Proactivity that we are celebrating today.
An important event to remind everyone of prematurity and the need to ensure the best possible treatment and care for premature newborns, as well as the necessity of corresponding support for their families. At the same time, since we all recognise the importance of prevention, such events help to raise awareness and inform all those involved and the public in general of the need to be vigilant in reducing premature births in our country. I would like to thank the Association "Baby Miracles" and the Management of Makareion Hospital for the invitation and the opportunity to address the issue of prematurity which is included in the strategic priorities of the Ministry of Health.
The World Health Organization states that Prematurity is a serious public health problem that affects millions of families worldwide every year. According to the same organisation, around 15 million babies are born prematurely each year and this number continues to rise.
Premature birth can lead to a range of serious health problems with premature babies often requiring lengthy hospitalisation, which can put significant social, mental and financial pressure on parents. But it also affects and places an additional burden on health care systems. It is therefore a very important issue that requires immediate collective action.
The causes of premature birth of a child are many, such as complications during pregnancy, the mother's heavy obstetric history, the use of assisted reproduction, multiple pregnancies and others. However, there is also a new group of preterm infants with increasing trends in recent years. These are premature babies who usually result from planned caesarean sections or induced labour before 39 weeks of gestation.
Prematurity prevention is inextricably linked to reducing caesarean sections and experts demonstrate that they require a multifaceted approach and management. In this regard, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with all stakeholders and with the support of the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), recently completed the drafting of the new Strategy for the Promotion of Normal Delivery and Reduction of Prematurity in our country. The adoption of the Strategy is already in its final stages and I hope that it will soon become an important tool to coordinate and guide the actions of all stakeholders involved with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all mothers in Cyprus enjoy the best possible care and children have the best possible start in life.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate the doctors, nurses and the rest of the staff of the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at Makarios Hospital Nicosia and Limassol General Hospital, for their daily battle to save lives and ensure the best possible treatment, care and support for premature newborns and their families.
Congratulations are also due to all of you, the supporters of our efforts.
The Ministry of Health will continue and strengthen every effort aimed at protecting and promoting the health of our children, who are the future of our country and are our little miracles.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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