A house RESOLUTION

 

TO DECLARE MAY 17, 2025, AS NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS AWARENESS DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES REGARDING THIS DEVASTATING DISEASE AND TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AFFECTED BY IT.

 

Whereas, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) causes a severe inflammatory process that can lead to intestinal tissue damage and death and, once NEC is diagnosed, many babies only live for a few hours or days. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most common cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age. Babies born prematurely or with a medical complication, like congenital heart disease, are most at risk of NEC; and

 

Whereas, thousands of babies develop NEC each year and hundreds of babies die from this complex intestinal disease. Surgery for NEC is not curative, and the babies who survive often have lifelong neurological and nutritional complications; and

 

Whereas, necrotizing enterocolitis results in approximately $5,000,000,000 of hospitalization expenses per year and roughly nineteen percent of neonatal healthcare expenditures in the United States, with an estimated cost of $200,000 or more for each case of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis; and

 

Whereas, breast milk is one of the most effective ways to help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in medically fragile infants, and when the mother's milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor human milk is the next safest option for babies at risk of NEC. Although the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis cannot be fully eliminated and there are not yet sure ways to stop or cure NEC, preventative measures are effective at reducing risks; and

 

Whereas, parents must be trusted and valued as the most important member of their baby's care team and healthcare providers should partner with families to provide the best care for infants at risk of NEC. Necrotizing enterocolitis can develop in both premature babies and babies born at term and more data is desperately needed to better understand how and why NEC occurs in preterm and term infants. Disparities and variation in care lead to Black infants being disproportionately affected by, and dying from, necrotizing enterocolitis compared to White infants; and

 

Whereas, the NEC Society is a nonprofit organization founded and led by a bereaved mother whose son died from complications of NEC and is the world's leading charity working to accelerate NEC research, education, and advocacy; and

 

Whereas, in support of a world without necrotizing enterocolitis and, meanwhile, a world with improved outcomes for the affected infants and families of today, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to recognize May 17, 2025, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day in this great State. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, declare May 17, 2025, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day in South Carolina and encourage all citizens of South Carolina to educate themselves regarding this devastating disease and to support families affected by it.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the NEC Society.

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