November is a month of celebration for children worldwide, as we come together annually to celebrate World Prematurity Day on 17th November and World Children’s Day on 20th November. In honour to these meaningful dates, the Department of Paediatric Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia in collaboration with the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia successfully organised a series of activities throughout the week, from 17 to 22 November 2025 to raise awareness, celebrate resilience and highlight our ongoing commitmment to child health and well being. This 6-days event comprised of 4 separate activities, which were Health and Safety awareness exhibition, Children’s Day Celebration, Preemie and Children’s Day Fun Walk and Prematurity Day Celebration.

The event started off with the Health and Safety  Awareness Exhibition from 17th to 20th November 2025, focusing on  Neonatal Care for Premature Babies, Basic Life Support for Infants and Children, Children Safety and Oncology awareness. The exhibition was held along the pathway infront of HPUSM Outpatient Pharmacy. The aim of this exhibition is to provide insight on nursing care in the neonatal intensive care unit for premature babies, to raise awareness on Kangaroo Mother Care and benefits of breast feeding, besides providing education on basic life support measures for infant and children to the public.

Meanwhile,  the Oncology booth provided the public some insights regarding the challenges faced by our oncology patients, while the Children safety booth gave information on the potential hazards at home and ways to prevent children from getting harmed.

On 20th November 2025, World Children’s Day 2025 celebration was held at Level 6 of Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia. It was themed “Bermain, Belajar dan Membesar Dengan Selamat” focusing on providing children a safe environment to play, learn and grow. About  40 children from D’Prince USM and Kompleks ECCE (Eacrly Child Care and Education) Kampus Kesihatan USM attended this event, where they participated in various activities such as sing-and- dance- along, hand hygiene education, colouring contests and arts and crafts and traditional games. Besides, pharmacists and teachers from Sekolah Dalam Hospital also organised booths to provide information to parents who attended this evet. Meanwhile, children in the general paediatric ward 6 Selatan and oncology patients in 6 Utara received gift packs from our sponsors

The highlight of the week was the Preemie and Children’s Day Fun Walk, held on the 21st November 2025. Despite the gloomy skies and heavy rain, approximately 500 participants turned up in solidarity to support premature babies. Dressed in vibrant raincoats and carrying umbrellas, each participant held balloons in purple, blue and pink symbolising hope for the premature survivors. The 3.5km walk began at Grey square, PPSP  continued around  USM jogging track and concluded back at Grey Square. The participants were led and accompanied by the cyclists from the USM Cycling Club ensuring both safety and enthusiasm throughout the route. The event ended with a Lucky draw session, where 100 lucky winners walked away with amazing prizes.

The finale for the week was the World Prematurity Day celebration on 22nd November 2025 with the theme “ Give Preterm Babies A Strong Start For A Brighter Future”. Due to  heavy rain, the event was brought indoors to  Bilik Tutorial A. It was attended by 30 Preemie Warriors and their family members. Following a delightful  breakfast, the children participated in engaging activities including face painting, bowling, snake and ladder game and colouring contest. The climax of the day was the Fashion Show where our Preemie warriors, dressed  in Superhero costumes, walked the runway with remarkable courage and charisma. The celebration concluded with a heartfelt closing ceremony, followed by a cake cutting and group photo taking session, marking a memorable end to the week’s event

The success of this week’s activities was made possible through the dedicated efforts of consultants, specialists, medical officers, staff nurses, supporting staffs and medical students from Paediatric department, whose teamwork ensured smooth execution at every stage. We also extend our hearfelt appreciation to the School of Medical Sciences, USM and Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia as well as our sponsors, whose generosity and commitment added immense value to the celebration. Together, this collaboration not only brought joy to families and our Preemie Warrior but also reinforced the shared mission of giving preterm babies a strong start for a brighter future