IPOH, Nov 16 — Annually, an average of 12.3 per cent of the 500,000 births recorded in Malaysia are premature, says the health ministry’s director of medical development division, Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar.

“Premature birth is one of the main causes of infant mortality in the world.

Lack of awareness and knowledge on prematurity cause it to happen,” he said when launching World Prematurity Day here today.

Also present to commemorate the occasion was Patron of Perinatal Society of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Raja Eleena Sultan Azlan Shah.

Meanwhile, society president Dr See Kwee Ching said the main purpose of the celebration was to raise awareness on premature births, and the effects and steps to reduce risk of prematurity.

A total of 200 children who were born premature joined in the celebration with their parents. — Bernama