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This week on "The State of Ohio": The Senate version of the budget is on its way, with just a few weeks remaining to hammer out differences with the House. Lawmakers try to clarify the state auditor's role with JobsOhio. And we revisit and update two controversial issues from the last year - the abortion debate in Ohio and the state's new exotic animals law and the facility it created.
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| Experts and lawmakers hope to deliver awareness about premature births. |
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By Karen Kasler - January 23, 2008 |
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The numbers of babies born before 37 weeks are rising, in Ohio and across the country. More than 19,000 babies are born prematurely in Ohio. The March of Dimes Ohio has recruited lawmakers and health experts to create what it's calling the Ohio Prematurity Caucus to increase awareness about premature births. It's a personal crusade for Republican State Senator Keith Faber of Celina. He and his wife lost twins nearly five years ago, when she went into unexplained and unexpected premature labor.
Dr. Jay Iams is a professor at Ohio State University and a nationally known expert on high risk births, and as chair of the campaign, he's pushing for better collection of data about premature deliveries.
The Prematurity Caucus will focus on funding research and encouraging better data collection about early births. Experts say nearly half of premature births have no known cause. It's the leading cause of death in the first month after birth, and preemies often have lifelong health problems. |
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Rep. Keith Faber (R-Celina) (:21) 
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Dr. Jay Iams (:19)
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