Women and Newborn Health Service
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King Edward Memorial Hospital
World Birth Defects Day March 3 2016
"More than 8 million babies worldwide are born each year with a serious birth defect. Birth defects are a leading cause of death in the first year of life, and babies who survive may be physically or mentally disabled, taking a costly toll on their families, communities and nations."
March of Dimes 2016, Global Programs: World Birth Defects Day, viewed 11February 2016,
<http://www.marchofdimes.org/mission/world-birth-defects-day.aspx>
On March 3, 2016 WARDA joins over 50 other international organizations to support World Birth Defects Day (WBDD #WorldBDDay).
Twelve international organizations working on birth defects launched the first annual WBDD in 2015. Recognizing the importance of birth defects, in 2010 the World Health Assembly passed a resolution urging member states to, among other steps, raise awareness about the importance of birth defects.
WBDD aims to raise awareness of this serious global problem by advocating for
- increased monitoring of the occurrence of birth defects,
- research to find causes and improve prevention, and
- promoting care to help children and adults with birth defects improve their quality of life and participation in society.
All stakeholders, including individuals with birth defects and their families, the public, governments, nongovernmental and civil society organizations, policymakers, researchers, and health care providers around the world, are encouraged to work together to help us make this a truly inclusive and wide-reaching global awareness event.
Everyone can get involved in raising awareness using Social Media. Consider sharing a story or picture about the impact of birth defects on you and your family using #WorldBDDay on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr. If you are a health care professional, speak about the steps women can take to help lower their risk of having a baby with a birth defect. Let’s work together toward a healthier future for our children.
The purpose of WBDD is to:
- Provide a platform to advocate for increased economic, political, and intellectual support to improve birth defects surveillance, prevention, care, and research by global communities and countries
- Raise awareness about the occurrence and impact of birth defects globally
- Raise awareness about the need for early and appropriate lifelong care
- Raise awareness about the ability of people with birth defects to participate in society
- Raise awareness of the global toll of death and disability from birth defects
- Raise awareness about the existing opportunities for people with birth defects to achieve their potential
There is a need to advocate for policy and resource support for research aimed at finding causes of birth defects, for prevention programs and for improving care of those affected
