Every November, the world pauses to observe World Prematurity Awareness Month, and on November 17, global efforts intensify to mark World Prematurity Day.
It is a period dedicated to creating awareness of prematurity, the emotional and financial challenges parents endure, the urgent need for better policies, and the necessity for improved healthcare systems for babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Understanding prematurity
A preterm baby is a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation. While babies born between 34 and 36 weeks may face minimal challenges, those born earlier often experience severe medical complications.
These include respiratory difficulties, underdeveloped organs, feeding challenges, infections, and in some cases, lifelong disabilities. For many of these babies, survival depends on immediate access to specialised care at birth.
Globally, outcomes for premature babies vary sharply depending on access to healthcare services. In well-resourced facilities — especially in developed countries — even extremely premature babies now survive and thrive because of: early detection and rapid intervention; advanced equipment; highly trained personnel, and strong neonatal follow-up systems.
Sadly, the picture in Ghana is very different. The condition of premature babies is most critical in rural and underserved vcommunities where access to basic maternity services remains limited; NICUs are unavailable in most facilities; skilled birth attendants are inadequate, and lifesaving equipment is scarce or completely absent.
Despite these challenges, many healthcare workers continue to display innovation and resilience every day — especially in rural settings.
There have been cases where bottles and tubes were used as makeshift CPAP machines, and ordinary bulbs were reinvented to function as phototherapy devices for newborn jaundice. These improvisations reflect both determination and the deep gaps in our health infrastructure.
Even in major hospitals, where skilled professionals exist, the biggest challenge remains the cost of care.
Beyond the basic services covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), parents must pay out of pocket for medications, laboratory investigations and specialised treatments.
For many families, these costs are crushing. Some mothers cannot even afford food to nourish themselves enough to produce breast milk — the most crucial source of nutrition for a premature baby.
Many times, when parents cannot afford lab services and other diagnostic costs, treatment grinds to a halt, and it is health workers who dig into their own pockets just to keep the babies alive.
Equitable care
This year, the Paediatric Association of Ghana adopted the theme “Equitable Care For Every Preterm Baby.” It is a powerful call. However, achieving equity requires more than advocacy campaigns and symbolic gestures.
To give every premature baby in Ghana a fair chance at survival, there must be: Investment in neonatal equipment and NICU expansion: There is an urgent need for increased funding to ensure that every region — especially district and rural health facilities — is equipped to care for premature babies. This includes:
• Establishing and upgrading NICUs across the country
• Providing essential equipment such as CPAP machines, incubators, phototherapy units, and monitors
• Ensuring availability of consumables and medications needed for premature care
Properly resourced facilities will eliminate the reliance on improvisation and drastically improve survival rates.
While the NHIS covers basic newborn care, the needs of premature babies often go far beyond that. A review is necessary to ensure:
• Specialised neonatal services receive coverage
• Laboratory tests, medications and consumables are not an out-of-pocket burden
• Families are not financially crippled while trying to save their babies
Financial barriers should never determine whether a newborn lives or dies.
Social support systems for vulnerable mothers and families:
The emotional and psychological weight on parents of premature babies cannot be overstated. Support systems must include:
• Welfare support for vulnerable mothers who cannot afford meals during a hospital stay
• Counselling services for parents navigating stress, fear and grief
• Community-based follow-up and support for discharged babies requiring long-term care
No family should feel alone in their journey through prematurity.
Beyond wearing purple
In November, we proudly wear purple and flood social media with messages of solidarity.
These efforts matter — they draw attention.
But more than awareness, what Ghana needs is commitment and action.
Prematurity is not a sentence. Preterm babies are not born too weak; they are only born early.
With the right medical support, they can grow, thrive, and live full lives.
As we reflect on World Prematurity Awareness Day, may our commitment go beyond purple ribbons.
Let it translate into advocacy, policy reform, resource allocation, stronger health systems, and compassion for families navigating their most vulnerable moments.
Together, we can build a Ghana where every baby — no matter where they are born — has a fighting chance.
The writer is a journalist with the Graphic Communications Group Limited and the founder of NICU Soldiers, an advocacy blog that focuses on the neonatal intensive care unit: www.nicusoldiers.com
