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November 18, 2019 – Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD), the county’s prenatal and infant care coalition, hosted the 2019 Miami-Dade Prematurity Symposium on November 14 and 15 in observance of Prematurity Awareness Month. To continue the Coalition’s efforts in providing education to families and the community, the symposium aimed to reduce preterm birth rates, increase equity and improve outcomes for premature infants through discussion of known causes, potential and evidence-based interventions, and best practices.
 
The Coalition was joined by more than 150 OB/GYN’s, pediatricians, neonatologists, family practitioners, nurses, clinical staff, case managers, and community participants to discuss topics such as caring for newborns with medical complexities, managing high risk pregnancies in the home, social determinants of health, and much more. Aetna Better Health of Florida was the signature sponsor of the 2019 Prematurity Symposium. 
“We are committed to our mission of reducing the number of low-birth weight and pre-term births,” said HSCMD CEO, Manuel E. Fermin. “In 2018, a total of 22,680 babies were born too early in Florida. And according to the March of Dimes 2019 report card, Florida earned a C- for its preterm birth rate. The preterm birth rate among Black women in Florida is 50% higher than the rate among all other women. These statistics are troubling, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the infants in our community get a healthy start in life.” 
 
About the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade
 
The Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD) is a community-based non-profit organization statutorily designated and funded by the State of Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to serve as Miami-Dade County’s prenatal and infant care coalition. HSCMD partners with local community-based organizations and healthcare professionals to plan, coordinate and provide high quality health and education services to women of childbearing age, infants up to age three and their families. For more information, visit www.hscmd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates.