Two of the Island's best-known landmarks – the Tower of Refuge in Douglas Bay and Pulrose Power Station - will be bathed in purple this Saturday (17 Nov) to mark World Prematurity Day.
The spectacle has been organised by nurses at Noble's Hospital to highlight issues surrounding prematurity, turning a spotlight on the extensive medical and support services available on Island for premature babies and their parents. Organisers have thanked the Department of Infrastructure, Manx Utilities and Douglas Town Centre Management for their help with the special illuminations, which will also see the capital's town centre lights change shade to purple.
Approximately 120 babies are admitted every year to the Neonatal Unit at Noble's Hospital, which can look after infants born as early as at 27 weeks of gestation.
The event began in 2009 to raise awareness of premature births, which number around 15 million worldwide each year - approximately one in every 10 babies born.
The care needs of premature babies range from special care to high-dependency care and intensive care. The Island's Neonatal Unit is classified as a Level 2 facility, which means it can provide both special and high-dependency care. Short-term intensive care can be provided on the Island, but on some occasions babies require transfer to a Level 3 unit in the UK.
Dr Prakash Thiagarajan, Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Noble's Hospital said:
'Advances in medical science mean that babies born prematurely have a higher chance of survival than ever before, which is very reassuring to the parents of pre-term babies. We are fortunate to have very highly trained and qualified staff that provide high quality neonatal care and in addition support the families of our baby patients extremely well.
He added:
'Premature birth cannot always be prevented, but about half are a result of lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress or medical conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. By making people aware of the risk factors and encouraging these to be discussed and managed during prenatal care, we hope to reduce the number of premature births.'
Whilst many premature babies will grow up to lead normal and active lives, they have a higher risk of developing learning and behavioral problems, sensory and motor difficulties, infections and respiratory diseases. World Prematurity Day is an occasion to celebrate the commitment of families to overcome these challenges and to thank the neonatal teams that care for them.
Paul McCann, Lead Nurse for Neonatal Services at Noble's Hospital said:
'Having a premature baby is a distressing and demanding time for the parents, but advances in neonatal nursing and medicine in terms of knowledge and skills means we can deliver a high quality care to the most premature of babies. We work very hard to ensure that every possible support is given. Education and support, both pre-birth and post-delivery, is vital and this is a big part of what World Prematurity Day is all about.'
Michaela Morris, Deputy Chief Executive of the DHSC and former midwife said:
'I fully support the efforts of the neonatal team to mark World Prematurity Day and raise awareness. We are most fortunate to have a state-of-the-art Neonatal Unit on the Island, providing high quality of care, allowing us to meet the latest standards. Very importantly we must continue to educate people on risk factors – particularly lifestyle choices – that are likely to lead to chances of pre-term labour.'
