15 November is World Prematurity Day

World Prematurity Day is a global moment to raise awareness of the challenges and impact of preterm birth. The day shines a spotlight on the urgent need to improve care for babies born too soon while providing practical and emotional support for their families, WHO reports.

Launched in 2008 by the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants alongside several parent organizations, World Prematurity Day has today grown into a worldwide movement. Around the world, individuals and organizations come together through events, campaigns, and advocacy seeking to drive change and improve outcomes for preterm babies.

Recognizing the importance of this issue for advancing child health and survival, the World Health Assembly added World Prematurity Day to WHO’s official calendar in 2025.

While World Prematurity Day has traditionally been observed on 17 November, and will be by many partners in 2025, in order to dedicate a unique day on which to focus on this priority issue without overlapping on other mandated World Days, WHO has designated 15 November 2025 as World Prematurity Day going forward.

This year’s theme echoes WHO’s Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures campaign. It reminds us that every child deserves a fair chance at life, starting from their very first moments.