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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is the most |
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common cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two |
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weeks of age; and |
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WHEREAS, This life-threatening disease occurs when bacteria |
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attack the lining of the intestines, causing cellular destruction |
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in the small and large intestines; it almost exclusively affects |
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newborns, particularly those born prematurely, and mortality rates |
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range from 10 to 50 percent in most cases; and |
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WHEREAS, Diagnosing NEC is challenging, as symptoms are vague |
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and often attributable to other causes; severe cases may require |
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surgical intervention, and many of those who survive the disease |
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experience lifelong neurological and nutritional complications; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The feeding of breast milk is one of the most |
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effective ways of preventing NEC in vulnerable infants, and when |
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the mother's milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor human milk is |
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the safest option for infants at risk of the disease; donated breast |
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milk has been critical to reducing the mortality rate, and |
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organizations such as the Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas and the |
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Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin are helping to ensure that babies have |
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access to the health benefits that breast milk provides; and |
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WHEREAS, Necrotizing enterocolitis poses a serious risk to |
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infants in their earliest weeks and months of life, and the |
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observance of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Breastfeeding |
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Awareness Month serves as a means of educating the public about this |
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devastating illness and the importance of breastfeeding as a |
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preventative measure; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate May as Necrotizing Enterocolitis and |
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Breastfeeding Awareness Month; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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finally passed by the legislature. |