UNICEF delivered a life-saving machine for newborns

Belgrade, 4 November 2021 - The Institute for Health Care of Children and Youth of Vojvodina from Novi Sad received today a therapeutic hypothermia device for asphyxiated newborns, provided by the Delhaize Serbia company as part of the So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart campaign.

The therapeutic hypothermia device for asphyxiated newborns is intended for treating babies who suffered oxygen deprivation during birth. This device prevents brain damage in these babies by applying a modern controlled cooling method and is worth 2,419,000 dinars. 

"This valuable device is used for applying a proven therapeutic method in preventing brain damage in newborns, thus saving lives of asphyxiated babies. In the previous period, the Institute received valuable equipment from UNICEF, which helped equip the Institute. However, in order to reach the highest standards in developmental care, professional support we receive from UNICEF experts and partners is equally important. I would also like to thank the Delhaize Serbia company, which provided funds for the purchase of this life-saving device. UNICEF is our reliable partner that knows that many newborn babies need daily support of the health care system, regardless of the crisis, and we are grateful for it," stated the Director of the Institute, Doc. Dr. Jelena Antić.

In Serbia, 65 thousand children are born every year, 4000 of whom are premature babies, and every day seven new babies require some form of urgent support. Premature birth is responsible for more than 60% of infant deaths in Serbia. The So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart campaign was launched by UNICEF late last year in order to provide additional equipment for neonatal units in Serbia, which will also contribute to reducing the mortality of premature babies in the country.

"The Institute for Health Care of Children and Youth in Novi Sad provides care to the most vulnerable babies from all over Vojvodina. For years, it has ensured that every newborn child gets the highest quality support in order to survive and thrive. The Institute is a good-practice example in the country when it comes to the provision of family-oriented developmental care, which also includes conditions for the continuous and irreplaceable contact between mum or dad and baby from the first days of baby’s life. This is one of the few institutions in Serbia that has managed to preserve this practice during the pandemic, which opens up opportunities for us to jointly support other neonatal intensive care units in Serbia to persist in that endeavour. Maintaining the highest standards of child health care, despite the challenges imposed by the COVID19 pandemic, is a common priority, and we would like to thank Delhaize Serbia for providing the funds to support the most vulnerable, but also the bravest among us, who fight like true "little giants", said Jelena Zaganović Jakovljević, UNICEF Early Childhood Development Specialist.

The COVID-19 epidemic has also been affecting pregnant women, newborns and children lately, so it is particularly important to invest efforts in adequate treatment of the infected and combating the epidemic, which is not sparing the youngest either. UNICEF has supported the equipping of neonatal units in Serbia, so that the most vulnerable among us, prematurely born babies and ill newborns, are given adequate support to survive and thrive. Starting from 2017, UNICEF has invested a total of 59,628,463 dinars in modernising the operation of the neonatal service in Serbia. The So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart campaign was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia.

"Delhaize Serbia has recognised UNICEF as the right partner and supported the modernisation of neonatal units in Novi Sad and Kragujevac, because we are aware of how important it is to help the most vulnerable babies that are also affected by the Corona virus crisis. Helping such small babies to get a chance at life is a reflection of our belief that help should be provided to those who need it most," said Milica Popović, Corporate Communications Manager at Delhaize Serbia.

In all Maxi, Mega Maxi, Tempo and Shop&Go stores across Serbia, customers have the opportunity to round their bill up to the amount they wish, and in this way support the provision of equipment to neonatal units in our country.

Delhaize Serbia donated a total of 200,000 euros to UNICEF for equipping neonatal units in our country. From this donation, another therapeutic hypothermia device for asphyxiated newborns will be provided to the Kragujevac Neonatal Care Centre, which will also receive the first ambulance for prematurely born and ill newborn babies. Since the start of the campaign, this is the largest private sector donation in the So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart campaign.