C-Care Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Prematurity Day 2025, celebrating babies born too soon and honoring the parents and medical teams who work tirelessly to give them a strong start in life.
The celebrations, held at the Namuwongo hospital, brought together mothers whose babies were delivered before nine months. This year’s theme, “Give Preterm Babies a Stronger Start for a Brighter Future,” emphasized the importance of early support and quality care.
Preterm babies—fondly referred to as “heroes”—enjoyed a joyful day filled with bouncing castles, face painting and entertainment, symbolizing their triumph after challenging beginnings.
Dr. Miriam Mutero, General Manager of C-Care Uganda, expressed deep appreciation for parents and the neonatal team.
“This year would not end well if we did not celebrate it,” she said. “We’re here because of the fighting spirit of these young little fighters. It’s about starting strong.”
She praised pediatricians, nurses and neonatologists for their continued dedication.
“We know it is a difficult task—fighting for life and every breath. We reaffirm our commitment to improving our NICU and bringing advanced care and technology to support these children even better.”
Representing the Uganda Pediatric Association, Dr. Immaculate Mirembe highlighted the burden of prematurity in Uganda.
“In Uganda, we have about 226,000 babies born too soon each year. Five percent of these—about 12,500—die before their fifth birthday,” she said.
She pointed to major contributors to preterm birth, including hypertension in pregnancy, adolescent pregnancies, anemia, poor maternal nutrition and domestic violence. She stressed the importance of antenatal care and giving birth in well-equipped facilities.
“If you happen to have a preterm baby, deliver in a good hospital. IHK is a very good hospital; it has all that is needed to care for your baby.”
Dr. Mirembe urged the public to join efforts to reduce the rising numbers of babies born too early.
“Together, let’s work to see that the burden of prematurity goes down.”
C-Care pediatrician Dr. Ronald Kyambadde applauded parents for their resilience, calling them “warriors.”
“One baby out of ten is born preterm. They are not just statistics; they are evidence that we have warriors among us,” he said.
He reminded attendees that many global achievers—including Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin and Stevie Wonder—were born prematurely, proving that strong beginnings can lead to remarkable futures.
Dr. Kyambadde emphasized the power of teamwork.
“The nurse present at delivery, the mother who donates breast milk, the father who commits to kangaroo care—this is the team that gives a baby a strong start.”
Mothers at the event expressed heartfelt gratitude to doctors who saved their children’s lives, while doctors praised the parents for their perseverance.
Dr. Shibah Nahurira, Head of Department, celebrated both the babies and their families.
“We thank God for our amazing heroes. Let’s treat them as the special heroes they are. We thank the parents for your perseverance and for trusting us with these precious gifts.”
She acknowledged the entire multidisciplinary team—from pediatric specialists to maintenance and laundry staff—for their collective role in every child’s survival.
“Every baby is treated as unique, and every need is catered for. It takes a big team, from top to bottom, and all of this contributes to the success of every premature baby.”
Experts continue to call for stronger healthcare systems, better maternal services and greater investment in neonatal support. With an estimated 226,000 babies born prematurely each year, Uganda faces a serious preterm birth crisis. One in every ten Ugandan babies is born too soon, making prematurity the leading cause of death among children under five.
