While striving for staging an exceptional Paralympic Games, medical staffs engaged in protecting women’s and children’s health are also making efforts to prevent disabilities. To further implement the China’s Initiative to Improve Newborn Health and Reduce Birth Defects and Disabilities (2002-2010) and disseminate knowledge concerning the prevention of birth defects, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau and Beijing Women and Children’s Health Care Center will send experts to carry out the “How to give birth to a healthy baby? – Lectures on the Prevention of Birth Defects in Beijing” campaign in 18 districts and counties.

In China, the rate of birth defects among perinatal infants (the 28th week of pregnancy ~ 7 days after birth) stands at around 13‰. If the defects that emerge a few months or even years later after delivery is included, the total number of infants with birth defects would be astonishing 800,000 ~ 1,200,000, accounting for 4 to 6 percent of the total newborn population.

In 2005, the rate of birth defects in Beijing was 13.15‰. Our publicity team, consisting of experts renowned throughout the city, toured 18 districts and counties in 2007 to deliver lectures entitled “How to give birth to a healthy baby”, which were held 18 times and attended by 2,910 people in total. Thanks to the lectures, the awareness rate of birth defects among the public has leaped from 37.41% to 90%. This proves that the campaign is a sound success and has tremendous significance, especially in the context of the Paralympic Games. The campaign will broaden the public’s knowledge about the prevention of birth defects and teach medical staffs the skills of early-stage screening so that more people can enjoy health and well-being.