Dr. Andrey Hristov: Prematurity is the modern scourge of pediatric healthcare

Between 15% and 20% of babies in Bulgaria are born prematurely. On 17 November, World Prematurity Day is observed. Today, public buildings, cultural monuments, and landmarks across the country are expected to be illuminated in purple to mark the occasion.

“Prematurity is the modern scourge of pediatric healthcare. Globally, around 13 million premature babies are born each year. In Bulgaria, prematurity is still associated mainly with birth weight. Not every baby born under 2.5 kg is premature,” said Dr. Andrey Hristov, Head of the Neonatology Clinic at Mama i Az Hospital in Pleven, in an interview for BNR.

He recommended that, in cases of expected high-risk delivery, the mother and her family should inquire whether the hospital they have chosen offers 24-hour neonatology care, whether it has modern equipment, and whether a transfer chain is in place in case the baby needs to be transported to a higher-level neonatal unit, as the first minutes of life are crucial.

World Prematurity Day has been observed since 2009, an initiative of the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) with the support of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), as a show of solidarity with premature infants and their families. In Bulgaria, the day has been marked since 2012 at the initiative of the foundation “Our Premature Children”.