HLS 24RS-1174 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 195
BY REPRESENTATIVE MELERINE
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Awareness Day in Louisiana
1 A RESOLUTION
2To recognize Friday, May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day in the state
3 of Louisiana.
4 WHEREAS, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an intestinal disease that primarily
5affects premature and medically fragile infants; the disease causes a severe inflammatory
6process that can lead to intestinal tissue damage and is the most common cause of death in
7hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age; and
8 WHEREAS, babies born prematurely or with a medical complication, like congenital
9heart disease, are most at risk of NEC; thousands of babies develop NEC each year and
10hundreds of babies die from this complex intestinal condition; many babies only live for a
11few hours or days after NEC is diagnosed; and
12 WHEREAS, surgery for NEC is not curative, and babies who survive often have
13lifelong neurological and nutritional complications; and
14 WHEREAS, NEC results in approximately $5 trillion of hospitalization expenses per
15year and roughly nineteen percent of neonatal healthcare expenditures in the United Sates,
16with an estimated cost of $200,000 or more for each case of surgical necrotizing
17enterocolitis; and
18 WHEREAS, although the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis cannot be fully eliminated,
19preventative measures are effective at reducing risks; feeding breast milk is one of the most
20effective ways to help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in medically fragile infants; and
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HR NO. 195
1 WHEREAS, more data is desperately needed to better understand how and why NEC
2occurs in infants; and
3 WHEREAS, because of disparities and variation in care, black infants are
4disproportionately affected by NEC compared to white infants; and
5 WHEREAS, to build a world without necrotizing enterocolitis and improve outcomes
6for infants and families, we must raise awareness about this devastating neonatal disease.
7 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
8Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Friday, May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing
9Enterocolitis Awareness Day in Louisiana and does hereby recognize the importance of
10raising awareness about this devastating neonatal disease.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 195 Original 2024 Regular Session Melerine
Recognizes May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day in La.
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