World Prematurity Day is celebrated every year on 17^th November in the whole world. The European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) introduced it in 2008 to raise awareness of the challenges and burden of preterm birth globally, the need to address the pressing challenges faced by doctors and families of premature babies.

 After all, the babies born before their term is a serious test for parents who need not only high-quality treatment, but also psychological help.  In our republic, this holiday has been celebrated since 2013, currently events within the framework of the World Prematurity Day are held in more than a hundred countries around the world.

 Since 2008, according to accepted international standards, if there are signs of live birth, all newborns born at a gestational age of 22 weeks or more (with a birth weight of 500 grams or more) are considered citizens of Kazakhstan and they are provided with a full amount of guaranteed medical care.

 Now all favorable conditions have been created in the Republic of Kazakhstan for nursing premature babies weighing up to 1000 grams.  Recent studies have proven positive dynamics in the treatment of a child with the participation of the mother in caring for him.  After training under the supervision of medical staff, mothers independently feed their children, change positions, process, change diapers. This makes the mother and child quickly connected, which has a beneficial effect on the outcome of treatment.  Having acquired skills in the hospital, the mother can independently care for the child after discharge - premature babies require special care.  Doctors and parents work together, because both sides have the same goal - to get the baby out!

 Resident neonatologists of the 1^st and 2^nd years of the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology of the NCJSC MUK, together with clinical mentors, actively participated in organizing and holding the day of a premature baby in the perinatal centers of Karaganda (RCH Perinatal Center No. 1,2, ROGC, Balkhash, Temirtau), Ulytau (Zhezkazgan) regions. Little patients with their parents were invited to the centers to share their achievements and successes, mastered the skills and knowledge, to support those parents who had just born premature babies.

 Congratulations to babies and parents, neonatologists and medical staff on the International Prematurity Day!  We wish you good health, happiness and prosperity!