November is Prematurity Awareness Month

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Premature births are the no. 1 causes of death in children under the age of five. To help raise awareness for prevention and care, November is marked as Prematurity Awareness Month. Premature birth affects 1 in 10 babies in Chicago. Babies who survive preterm birth often face a lifetime of health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and prolonged hospital stays. March of Dimes invests millions of dollars into Prematurity Research Centers, including one in Chicago.

World Prematurity Day is scheduled for November 17, 2015. On that day, buildings around the country will glow purple for Prematurity awareness. The Willis Tower will also glow purple for the event. Dr. Vincent Lynch, from the Chicago Prematurity Research Center, and Elise Jackson, a mother in the March of Dimes Ambassador Family, sat down with ABC 7 Eyewitness news to discuss premature births, and the treatments available for mothers and their babies.

Name of event: World Prematurity Day

Date: Tuesday, November 17

Address: Cities across the globe will go purple to raise awareness about premature birth, the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 worldwide