Children are born every second of every day and every night, which should surprise no one. But did you know that in Virginia, 9.5 percent were born prematurely in 2017? That’s according to www.marchofdimes.org, which is dedicated to reducing the rate of both preterm infants and those born with birth defects.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., as well as the local members of the Franklin-Southampton Chapter Gamma Alpha Delta Zeta, are partnering with March of Dimes to educate people about the issue.

The national sorority will have its 16 annual ZPAP campaign for this purpose, which can include hosting information sessions in churches. The organization has already been associated with March of Dimes for more than 45 years.

World Prematurity Day will be this Saturday, Nov. 17. We urge all women about to become mothers — whether for the first time or the third — to get facts and advice that can better ensure their babies will be fully developed and healthy at birth.

To learn more, visit either March of Dimes or zphib1920.org.