Congress receives green lighting in awareness actions about perinatal asphyxia

The National Congress building will be illuminated in green today (17) and tomorrow (18) for Perinatal Asphyxia Awareness Month, called Green September Hope, and for the National Awareness Day for Muscular Dystrophies.

Perinatal asphyxia is the third leading cause of death among newborns worldwide, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). The campaign, held annually, involves civil entities and public agencies in informational activities to reduce the number of cases in the country.

In addition to accounting for 23% of newborn deaths worldwide, perinatal asphyxia is also among the leading causes of permanent brain injuries in babies born between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation.

Perinatal asphyxia occurs when a baby experiences a lack of oxygen during delivery or shortly after birth. According to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, about 10% of newborns and more than 60% of preterm infants require pulmonary ventilation in the delivery room to restore breathing.

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHIES

For muscular dystrophies, whose national awareness day is celebrated on September 17, the Congress will be illuminated in green for the second time this month. The first special lighting occurred at the beginning of September.

MDs, as they are known, constitute a group of hereditary muscle disorders in which one or more genes necessary for normal structures and functioning undergo mutation, resulting in muscle weakness with varying levels of severity.

In September, the Brazil Muscular Dystrophy Alliance, which brings together various representative entities of patients with muscular dystrophies, promotes a series of activities on the topic, aimed at people with the disorder, their families, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and others. The goal is to raise awareness and fight for better quality of life for people living with MDs.

Currently, there is no cure for muscular dystrophies, but appropriate treatment, accurate diagnosis, and new therapies have proven effective in improving the quality and life expectancy of people diagnosed with MD. The special lighting was requested by Senators Romário (PL-RJ) and Mara Gabrilli (PSD-SP).