Rela Hospital marked World Prematurity Day 2025 by bringing together more than 50 preterm babies and their families. These children, some born as early as 25 weeks and weighing as little as 600 grams, have now caught up developmentally with their peers. The event aimed to increase awareness that with specialised neonatal intensive care, even the smallest and most vulnerable newborns can survive and thrive.
Special Guests and Expert Participation
Actor Ravi Mohan attended the event as the chief guest. Parents of preterm babies also shared their experiences, offering hope and encouragement to other families.
The function was presided over by Prof. Mohamed Rela, Chairman, Rela Hospital, and attended by Dr. Naresh Shanmugam, Director – Women and Child Health, Dr. Velmurugan Kannappan, Senior Consultant – Neonatology and Paediatrics, and Dr. M. P. Venkatesh, Clinical Lead – General Paediatrics, along with the expert NICU team.
Understanding Prematurity: A Growing Global Concern
According to the World Health Organization, prematurity refers to babies born before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Observed every 17 November, World Prematurity Day raises global awareness of the challenges faced by premature infants and their families.
Globally, 13–15 million babies are born prematurely each year—about 1 in every 10 births.
Prematurity as a Public Health Priority
As per the press release, Prof. Mohamed Rela noted, “Prematurity has become a significant public health issue. Complications from preterm birth remain the leading cause of death in children under five. While many survivors face long-term disabilities, advances in neonatal care now allow us to treat even babies born at 25 weeks. Earlier, we could save only six or seven out of ten preterm babies. Today, we can save almost all of them. Parents should seek treatment with confidence.”
Rising Preterm Births and Their Causes
Discussing incidence rates, Dr. Velmurugan Kannappan stated that NFHS-5 data shows 13% of Indian children are born prematurely and 17% have low birth weight, translating to nearly 3.5 million preterm births each year.
He highlighted that preterm births are steadily increasing due to work-related stress among expectant mothers, poor nutrition, and inadequate management of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. He advised antenatal mothers to undergo regular check-ups to reduce the risk of preterm birth.
Challenges in Treating Preterm Babies
Dr. Velmurugan explained that preterm babies face three major challenges. First, they are prone to intraventricular haemorrhage due to fragile brain vessels and oxygen fluctuations. Second, their immature gut makes digestion difficult—even mother’s milk can be hard to tolerate. Third, their immune system and several organs, including the lungs and heart, remain underdeveloped.
However, he emphasised that with advanced equipment, expert care, and appropriate medication, clinicians can successfully manage these complications and significantly improve outcomes.
Comprehensive Neonatal Care at Rela Hospital
Rela Hospital operates a 15-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit equipped to handle the full spectrum of prematurity-related complications—from primary neonatal care to advanced cardiac and ventilatory support. Additionally, the hospital offers specialised neonatology counselling to mothers at risk of delivering extremely premature babies.
Over the past seven years, the hospital has successfully delivered more than 500 preterm babies, reflecting its expertise and commitment to neonatal care.