Gisborne Clock Tower joins global prematurity campaign and ‘Lights Up Purple’

Landmarks around New Zealand will be lit up alongside international landmarks in a campaign for World Prematurity Day on 17 November.

This is the second year New Zealand has taken part in the ‘Lighting Up Purple’ campaign, which is designed to raise awareness of the 15 million babies born prematurely worldwide each year.

The prominent Gisborne Clock Tower is one of the many buildings joining in the awareness campaign.

Garrett Blair, Gisborne District Councils Team Leader of Community and Recreation Facilities says “The Gisborne District Council is happy to support such a great cause. The Town Clock is such an icon in the city and the ability to show our support by lighting it up purple is fantastic to highlight the importance of neonatal care throughout New Zealand.”

Among the other buildings turning purple across New Zealand are Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre, the Christchurch International Airport Terminal and Control Tower, the Oamaru Opera House and the Clock Towers in Blenheim and New Plymouth. Past international participants include the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls and the Trevi Fountain.

Every year over 150 babies pass through the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in Gisborne hospital. These babies are either born premature, or require additional care due to complications or illness. Intensive care may be required for very early babies or those with serious health issues. If this is the case, babies are transferred to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with the Waikato NICU in Hamilton the closest. Over 1,000 babies pass through the Waikato NICU.

A premature baby is born every 90 minutes on average in New Zealand. That’s more than 5,000 or 10 percent of all babies each year who have to go through a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). In addition to premature babies, sick full-term babies are cared for in neonatal units. The complications these babies face are often only apparent once the baby is born.

New Zealand’s lighting up campaign is headed by The Neonatal Trust. The Trust supports families of premature and sick full-term babies across New Zealand.

“The charity works to support neonatal families as they make their journey through a neonatal unit, the transition home and onwards” said Neil O’Styke, Executive Director of The Neonatal Trust.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive and the willingness of these incredible landmarks to get involved. It’s just another example of the incredible support the New Zealand community gives charities.”

Many New Zealanders are personally affected, or have friends and family who have experienced premature births or had a sick baby require specialist care.

“It’s an issue which affects a significant amount of our population, and we are excited to see the New Zealand community get behind our campaign” he adds.

ENDS

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