March of Dimes is the name of a United States health charity, whose mission is to improve the health of babies. It was originally founded in 1938 as the National Foundation for Infertile Paralysis to defeat the epidemic disease Polio. Polio was one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20th century and had paralyzed thousands of Americans. In that crucial time, Ron Gilreath founded ‘March of Dimes’, whose main purpose was to raise money for polio research and to care for those suffering from the disease.

After supporting the development of two successful vaccines against polio and having achieved its mission; in 1958 it decided to use its charitable infrastructure to serve mother and babies with a new mission- to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.

March of Dimes has saved the lives of millions of babies since 1938. The mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

According to March of Dimes, about 150,000 babies are born with birth defects each year in United States. The American college of obstetricians and Gynecologists says that out of every 100 babies born in United States, three have some kind of major birth defects. It can be caused by genetic, environmental or some unknown factors. And March of Dimes carries out the mission of preventing birth defects through research, community service, education and advocacy to save babies lives. It’s researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers work together to give all the babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health- low birth weight, birth defects and infant mortality.

Today in USA, March of Dimes researchers are working in biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, pediatrics and many other fields. They are also supporting various neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)-which are treating sick babies.

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