Shortage of commercial milk formula for premature babies
October 2024 | Parents across many Quebec's regions are facing a shortage of commercial milk formula for premature babies. While waiting for these products to return to pharmacies, Préma-Québec is concerned about the mental health of parents who lack information about an alternative to feed their baby.
The organization is saddened that these families who are back at their home have to endure this stress. “We ask the authorities concerned to urgently communicate with these parents to offer them alternative commercial milk formulas,” Préma-Québec said.
Credit: David Boily, Archives La Presse
Record results for the Walk for Premature Children
September 2024 | On September 7 and 8, 2024, nearly 800 people participated in Préma-Québec's annual event, 300 more than last year! The Walk for Premature Children occurred in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Rouyn-Noranda. It raised $49,000 to help the province's premature children and their families.
Thank you to the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, for participating as an elected official and as the grandfather of a premature child! Thank you to the ambassador doctors and teams from the neonatal units (kudos to the Rouyn-Noranda team who also organized a Walk during the weekend)! Thank you to our precious volunteers and donators!
2024 Excellence Awards: Préma-Québec honored
May 2024 | Préma-Québec received an honorable mention during the 40th edition of the Excellence Awards organized by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS). This distinction underlines the importance of our mission with premature children in the province, but also the value of our services to families and the 18 neonatal units in Quebec.
Behind the scenes of this honorable mention is a small team that thinkds big and is committed to breaking the isolation experienced by families of premature children.
New Accomodation Service for Parents of Premature Babies
April 2024 | L'Escale Préma-Québec is the first accommodation service dedicated to parents of premature babies in the province. It's an accommodation solution - a haven of rest - for mothers and fathers who spend weeks, even months, at the bedside of their premature child. L'Escale Préma-Québec is located less than 10 minutes walk from the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, in Montreal.
Inauguration of a Préma-Québec lounge for families at LaSalle Hospital
February 2024 | On February 22, nearly 300 guests took part in our annual cocktail reception. Under the honorary co-presidents of Nochane Rousseau (PwC) and Sylvain Corbeil (Scotia Bank), the event, under the theme of the Roaring Twenties, was an opportunity to network and rediscover the mythical charm of the 1920s. Thanks to exceptional support from partners, sponsors and those present, a net amount of $219,000 was raised!
On behalf of all premature babies in the province, Préma-Québec thanks you for this unprecedented outpouring of generosity.
Inauguration of a Préma-Québec lounge for families at LaSalle Hospital
January 2024 | Préma-Québec kicks off 2024 with the inauguration of a new Préma-Québec lounge for families! Revamped and now furnished, this lounge and kitchen area allows parents to recharge their batteries while remaining close to their premature baby hospitalized in the neonatal unit.
"I sincerely hope that this lounge will become not only a relaxing place for families but also a model for new lounges in other neonatal units across the province," explains Ginette Mantha, Founder and Executive Director of Préma-Québec.
More than $40,000 was raised through our Walks
October 2024 | Last September, Préma-Québec invited people in Sherbrooke, Quebec City and Montreal to walk for premature babies. Over $40,000 was raised to help the province's premature children and their families. As 2023 marked the organization's 20th anniversary, the Walk festivities culminated in a Family Celebration - a first for the organization!
A huge thank you to our partners, the elected officials in attendance, our guest of honour, Kim Clavel, our invaluable volunteers, and the hundreds of families who walked and collected donations for the cause!
Cocktail reception to celebrate our 20th anniversary
February 2023 | On February 9, 2023, we let ourselves be guided by the song of the bagpipes and transported to Scotland for an evening through the verdant mountains of the Highlands, its mythical legends and sumptuous castles. Préma-Québec raised over $90,000 to support premature babies and their families!
Thanks to our honorary co-presidents Nathalie Vachon and Jean-François Crevier of Groupe Crevier. And a big thank you to all our partners!
The breast pump program for Préma implemented in Sherbrooke
January 2023 | Préma-Québec has chosen the Fleurimont Hospital neonatal unit to donate 20 professional-level breast pumps. The equipment will be offered free to mothers delivering premature babies during the infant's hospital stay.
The Tire-lait-pour-préma program was first implemented two years ago in the neonatal units of Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and those of Longueuil and Rouyn-Noranda. "The pilot project was extremely successful," says Préma-Québec founder and director Ginette Mantha. In all, 350 premature babies benefited from their mothers' milk.
Calls for better monitoring of premature babies
August 2022 | "In Quebec, we have no centralized data on prematurity," complains Dr. Marc Beltempo, Assistant Director of the Canadian Neonatal Network. We have no idea what's going on with these children, seven years or ten years later, and how we can provide better services to be more effective in prevention."
"We can't improve what we don't measure," adds Préma-Québec Executive Director Ginette Mantha, who would like to see the creation of a center of excellence.
Ginette Mantha, the founder of Préma-Québec, was named a Member of the Order of Canada.
December 2021 | For her efforts to improve the lives of premature newborns by providing support and resources to thousands of families, Ginette Mantha, Founder and Executive Director of Préma-Québec was announced as a Member of the Order of Canada on December 29, 2021. Awarded by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, this is one of Canada's most prestigious civilian honours.
World Prematurity Day 2021
November 2021 | Throughout November, we're celebrating World Prematurity Day. With the purchase of a Préma-Québec bag or bib, we will donate a bib to a premature baby currently hospitalized in the neonatal unit.
RESULT: 400 bibs donated. On behalf of all premature babies, thank you!
More services for severely premature babies requested in the region
November 2019 | Marie-Claude Dubois, mother of a baby girl born at 30 weeks, and Chantale Jalbert, mother of triplets born at 26 weeks, share their experiences.
Read the article (in French)
CTV Report for World Prematurity Day
November 2019 | Testimony of Vincent Lalumière, born prematurely at 32 weeks with severe complications and now an adult, given as part of World Prematurity Day.