Mineola, NY - November 21, 2013 - In recognition of November as Prematurity Awareness Month, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and the March of Dimes announce that the dome of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola will be illuminated purple for the 15 million babies born prematurely worldwide each year. Statistics indicates that more than 1 million of these babies die, and many more face serious, lifelong health challenges.

Premature birth is truly a global problem. In the United States, 1 in 8 is born too soon. Raising awareness of premature birth is the first step to defeating it. Some good news is that for the sixth consecutive year, the premature birth rate has fallen to its lowest level in 15 years. The March of Dimes estimates that about 176,000 fewer babies have been born too soon since 2006.