November 17 marked the second annual World Prematurity Day, sponsored by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH). The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimists” blog published two posts discussing premature birth.

• Carole Presern: Noting that simple interventions, like keeping newborns warm and clean, can help reduce infants’ risk of death due to complications from preterm birth, Presern, director of the PMNCH, writes, “Building a coalition of the willing for a neglected yet essential issue like preterm birth is half the battle. If we can remain united in our efforts, and maintain global attention on the need to prioritize preterm prevention and care, we can put what we already know into action to dramatically change the nature of the problem” (11/17).
• Jennifer James: James, founder of Mom Bloggers for Social Good, notes that “1.1 million children die from being born prematurely every year.” She writes, “There are still many scientific question marks surrounding the causes of premature births,” which “is why additional funding and country commitments have been pledged to provide more detailed data in order to determine the root causes of premature births in order to prevent them.” She urges readers to get involved by visiting the World Prematurity Day Facebook page (11/16).