R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, NOV 19
Rela Hospital marked World Prematurity Day 2025 with a heart-warming gathering of more than 50 preterm babies and their families — children who were once among the tiniest and most vulnerable, including those born at just 25 weeks and weighing as little as 600 grams. The event, graced by actor Ravi Mohan (Jayam Ravi) as chief guest, highlighted that with the right neonatal expertise, even extremely premature newborns can survive and grow into healthy, active children.
Addressing at the event, actor Ravi Mohan appealed the people not to abuse using the words ‘prematured delivered baby’ while interacting with the people in tension.
- Doctors highlight prematurity as a critical public-health concern affecting 1 in 10 births worldwide
- Advances in neonatal intensive care now enable survival of babies born as early as 25 weeks
- Experts urge regular antenatal care and warn of rising preterm births due to stress and maternal health issues
The programme was presided over by Prof Mohamed Rela, Chairman, Rela Hospital, and attended by Dr. Naresh Shanmugam, Director – Women and Child Health; Dr. Velmurugan Kannappan, Senior Consultant – Neonatologist and Paediatrician; and Dr. M. P. Venkatesh, Clinical Lead – General Paediatrics, along with the hospital’s intensive-care specialists. Parents of preterm babies shared powerful testimonies of hope, endurance and recovery.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 13–15 million babies — about 1 in every 10 births — are born prematurely each year, making complications from preterm birth the leading cause of death in children under five. World Prematurity Day, observed globally on 17 November, aims to raise awareness about these challenges and the critical need for specialised neonatal care.
Prof. Mohamed Rela said, “Prematurity has become a critical public health concern. Complications from preterm birth remain the leading cause of death in children under five, and many survivors continue to face long-term disabilities that place a significant burden on families and the healthcare system. However, with the right science, technology, and expertise, we can now treat even babies born as early as 25 weeks. These children can grow into healthy adults. In the past, we could save only six or seven out of every ten preterm babies. Today, with advancements in neonatal care, we are able to save almost all of them. Hence, parents should come forward for the treatment of preterm babies with confidence.”
Rela Hospital operates a fully equipped 15-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit capable of managing all stages of prematurity — from essential newborn support to advanced cardiac and ventilatory care. The hospital also provides specialised counselling for mothers at risk of extremely preterm deliveries and has successfully delivered more than 500 preterm babies in the past seven years.
Discussing the rising incidence, Dr. Velmurugan Kannappan said, “In India, NFHS-5 data shows that 13% of children are born prematurely and 17% have low birth weight, translating to nearly 3.5 million premature births every year. In recent years, we have seen a steady rise in the incidence of preterm births. Work-related stress among expectant mothers, poor nutrition, and inadequate management of diabetes, hypertension, and other maternal health conditions are major contributing factors. Antenatal mothers can avoid pre-term birth by following regular checkup.”
Explaining clinical challenges, he added that premature babies face three major risks — intraventricular haemorrhage due to fragile brain vessels, digestive difficulties because of an immature gut, and severely underdeveloped immunity and organs, including the lungs and heart. “However, despite these challenges, with the right expertise, medicines, and advanced equipment, we can successfully manage each of these complications. We can dramatically improve outcomes and help these children lead healthy, normal lives,” he said.
The event served as a reminder that while prematurity continues to be a global challenge, advances in neonatal science are giving even the smallest newborns an extraordinary chance at life.
Few parents who have participated in the event including a mother of twin preterm babies -a (male and a female expressed their gratitude to the team of neonatal team of doctors and staffs.
While replying to queries, actor Ravi Mohan said he is involved in two film projects – Genie with director Arjunan Jr, Parasakthi with director Sudha Kongara. Both the films are in advanced stage of production and Parasakthi is expected to be released during Pongal 2026.
When asked about his reaction on the reunion of Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan and Super Star Rajinikanth after a long gap, the actor said ”Reunion of two legends in one frame after long time is a happy news, I am eager to see them together again in colour”, he added.
