The Petition for Preemies was a success. Now millions of pregnant women and an estimated 11 million children will have much-needed health care coverage.
President Obama signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) into law.
My heartfelt thanks to the moms and dads, grandparents, and friends who heeded the March of Dimes call to action. Children’s health is not a partisan issue — it’s every family’s issue — and worry. At a time when economic woes and job losses have put health coverage at risk, this law is more necessary than ever.
Dr. Jennifer L. HowsePresident, March of Dimes
Mission of March of Dimes
To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies’ lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.
Parent Education
The March of Dimes helps pregnant women know what to worry about and what not to worry about when it comes to having a healthy baby. Through our Pregnancy & Newborn Health Education CenterSM women can get free one-on-one, confidential answers to their questions about pregnancy, preconception, newborn screening and related topics.The Center also provides a wide variety of materials including mama, an annual magazine full of practical and important information for parents-to-be, are available.
Premature Birth
Each year, more than 460,000 babies are born too soon, some so small they can fit in the palm of a hand. Many of these babies must fight just to survive; others will struggle with lifelong health problems. No one knows what causes half of all premature births. No one is working harder than the March of Dimes to find out.
Genetic Research
Genetic birth defects leave our children unable to walk, to hear, to think, or even to fight off disease. March of Dimes investments in genetic research already are starting to yield results. Two March of Dimes-funded grantees have used gene therapy successfully in treating hemophilia and retinitis pigmentosa in the lab, giving hope that we are closer to a cure for these genetic birth defects.
Health Care
No parents should have to choose between feeding their child and buying the medicines he or she needs. Yet, this happens every day in America because more than 9 million children have no health coverage. For many of these children, this means they can’t get preventive checkups, immunizations, or treatment for common childhood illnesses. The March of Dimes is fighting so that all babies, children and pregnant women get health insurance.
Help Us Save Babies You can partner with the March of Dimes by becoming a volunteer or a donor. With your help, we can win the fight to save babies.
Visit their website for more information and the links:
http://www.marchofdimes.com