image: States Declare May 17 NEC Awareness Day
Credit: NEC Society
The NEC Society is leading the way toward a world without necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a complex and often deadly intestinal disease affecting the most vulnerable infants. By bringing together families and elected officials, the NEC Society is raising the profile of this devastating neonatal disease. States nationwide have championed NEC Awareness Day Resolutions to recognize May 17.
The NEC Society’s families have partnered with elected officials to declare May 17 NEC Awareness Day in California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Utah, bringing much-needed attention to this leading cause of infant death.
Necrotizing enterocolitis triggers a severe inflammatory process that causes an infant’s intestines to become necrotic. Too often, the disease rapidly progresses to sepsis and multisystem organ failure. Tragically, up to 40% of infants with NEC do not survive.
Most families learn about NEC when their child is being diagnosed, but the NEC Society and its NEC Awareness Day Resolutions are working to change that.
In addition to state-level efforts, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) partnered with Congressman Kevin Kiley (CA-03) and introduced the NEC Awareness Day Resolution in the US House of Representatives on May 17, 2024.
Jennifer Canvasser, founder and executive director of the NEC Society, shares, “We are so grateful to the legislators who recognize the urgency of this neonatal disease. We desperately need to improve our ability to understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat NEC. By bringing together patient-families, clinician-scientists, and elected officials, our NEC Awareness Day Resolutions are a first step toward generating more awareness and resources for a world without NEC.”
The NEC Society is working to pass NEC Awareness Day Resolutions in all 50 US states and hold a Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC. You can become part of the NEC Society’s advocacy efforts for a world without NEC here.