So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart - Little Fighters for Big Wins
UNICEF Calls for Support for Premature Babies in Serbia
- Srpski
- English
Belgrade, 16 December 2024 – Every day in Serbia, ten babies are born prematurely, with seven of them requiring intensive neonatal care. Their fight for life begins at birth. Only the combined support of doctors and parents, along with appropriate medical equipment, can save their lives. To give these babies a chance at life, continued investment in neonatal intensive care units across the country is essential. That’s why UNICEF is extending its campaign, So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart, to raise funds for modernising and equipping neonatal units. Procuring incubators, ventilators, aspirators, and “skin-to-skin” chairs is crucial to increasing survival rates and providing the best conditions for the growth and development of premature babies.
Premature births account for 60% of neonatal deaths and 42% of deaths of children under five in Serbia. Regional disparities in the availability and quality of healthcare further jeopardise the survival chances of premature babies. In southern and eastern parts of the country, neonatal mortality rates are two to three times higher than the national average.
With modern, well-equipped neonatal intensive care units, babies gain a stable environment for survival and development, as well as the opportunity for close contact with their parents, which is vital for recovery and emotional development.
The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, in long-term collaboration with UNICEF, continuously improves the quality of perinatal and neonatal healthcare through the adoption of modern standards, procurement of equipment, and training of specialised personnel.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow and develop in a healthy and safe environment. With support from companies and citizens, we can secure the life-saving equipment needed and enable parents to be with their babies from day one,” said Vesna Savic Djukic, Fundraising Specialist at UNICEF Serbia.
A donation of 12,000,000 dinars funds a mobile X-ray machine, providing access to top-notch diagnostics. For 2,030,000 dinars, a stationary incubator can be purchased, offering essential conditions for a baby’s survival and development. Just 48,000 dinars provides a “skin-to-skin” contact chair, crucial for the bonding and progress of both baby and parent.
Serbia has seen a steady decline in neonatal mortality rates, from 4.63 in 2010 to 3.06 in 2023, and significant progress is evident in the city of Nis, where neonatal mortality decreased from 7.14 in 2021 to 3.89 in 2023 per 1,000 live births. This progress was made possible through additional investments in equipment and medical staff training. It’s clear that investment in neonatal care delivers tangible results and offers a lifeline for premature babies.
UNICEF invites citizens and companies to join the campaign and support premature babies in their fight for life. For more information and ways to donate, visit UNICEF Serbia’s website.
Media contacts
O UNICEF-u
Prisutni smo u više od 190 zemalja i teritorija, a kroz sve što radimo promovišemo prava i dobrobit dece, posebno one koja su najugroženija i isključena. U potpunosti se finansiramo od dobrovoljnih priloga pojedinaca, država i vlada, fondacija i kompanija.
Pratite UNICEF Srbija na: Facebook-u, Twitter-u, YouTube-u, Instagram-u i LinkedIn-u.
