Langston Zetas Help March of Dimes fight Premature Births

Langston —In response to the significant rise in premature births, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority chapters across the country held prematurity awareness events during the month of November 2016. Zeta members in more than 850 communities across the America conducted prematurity awareness activities in houses of worship and congregations. Worshipers learned more about the infant health crisis that nearly half a million families cope with each year. This year marks the 14th consecutive year of Zeta’s participation by leading this nationwide grassroots campaign.

Despite its prevalence, many families endure the trauma of a premature birth, and all too often infant death, privately and silently. Most people are unaware of the scope of this common and costly health problem. Here in Logan County on Sunday November 27, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church congregation in Langston participated in this important Awareness Program in a very personal way.

“We wanted to help the March of Dimes educate the public,” said Curtisia Battle, Beta Phi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority President. “So, we took this vital information to the place where we worship, and personalized the loss, the cost and the difficulties that are associated with Premature Births. This issue affects so many families in Langston that we set up a “Tree of Remembrance” to recognize babies born too soon, stillborn/miscarried babies, or those babies that died much too soon. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

The March of Dimes led a World Prematurity Day observance on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Prematurity affects one out of ten babies born in the U.S. today—a rate that has increased 29 percent since 1981. The numbers are even more alarming for African-American babies who have a one- in-six chance of being born too soon.

In addition to the emotional toll, there is a tangible cost to premature birth as well. Average hospital charges in the United States for the most severe cases of prematurity were nearly 60 times higher than the charges for newborn stays without complications. Prematurity is the leading cause of death for newborns (in the first month of life) and many of the babies who survive leave the hospital with lifelong health conditions or developmental disabilities that will place an additional financial burden on the family.

That’s why the March of Dimes is leading a national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care. As part of that effort, November is designated as Prematurity Awareness Month to remind the public that premature birth is a crisis and to bring people together to help give all babies their nine months.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003, launched a national campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes website at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language website at nacersano.org.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1920 on the belief that the social nature of sorority life should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. The international organization’s 125,000+ initiated members, operating in more than 850 chapters, have given millions of voluntary hours to educate the public, provide scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change. For more information on Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., please visit their website at www.zphib1920.org.