UNICEF delivered two incubators to the Institute for Neonatology in Belgrade

Belgrade, 17 November 2021 - UNICEF donated today, on the World Prematurity Day, two incubators to the Institute for Neonatology in Belgrade, our leading institution providing care to premature babies. The donation was provided by UNICEF from its own funds, responding to increased needs for the care of babies and children who are increasingly infected with the COVID-19 virus.

"Care for premature babies, as the most vulnerable members of our society, is additionally challenging amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. UNICEF has been with us since the onset of the crisis, not forgetting that in particular in these conditions, many newborn babies need daily assistance from the health system.

It was UNICEF that, back in 1948, provided this institution with the equipment available at the time, whereby it became a pilot institution for treating prematurely-born children. In the course of its further development, the Institute became a leader in the country and region in the field of treating prematurely-born infants.

A dedicated team of doctors and health care workers at the Institute is working to ensure that the highest standards of intensive treatment and family-oriented developmental care are implemented even in the most difficult circumstances. This includes feeding babies with mother’s milk, presence of the family and the application of the most modern methods that are very important in promoting the proper growth and development of newborns and bonding with parents, whose role is invaluable from the first day.

We are grateful to UNICEF for responding quickly to our increased needs for providing additional care to vulnerable and premature newborns, especially in the conditions of the pandemic. The incubators we have just received will help us greatly in the treatment and care of these small, most vulnerable patients," said Prim. Dr. Milica Rankovic-Janevski, Director of the Institute.

Every year, about 65 thousand children are born in Serbia, 4000 of whom are premature babies, and every day another seven babies require some form of urgent support.

UNICEF launched the So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart campaign late last year, with the support of the Ministry of Health, in order to provide additional equipment for neonatal intensive care units in Serbia. Since the beginning of the year, with the support of the private sector and humane individuals, equipment has been provided for the modernisation of neonatal units in Kragujevac, Nis, Novi Sad and Belgrade worth 24,163,788.65 dinars. Eight incubators, 4 thermoregulation systems, 2 reanimation tables, 4 skin-to-skin armchairs, 18 infusion pumps, 4 thoracic drainage systems, 2 systems for non-invasive ventilation of newborns and other equipment have been provided.

"One of the ways UNICEF is helping the health system is by supporting the provision of necessary medical equipment for neonatal intensive care units. The donation of these two incubators contributes to the efforts to save the lives of the most vulnerable children.

"UNICEF and the Institute for Neonatology work together to make both specialised medical equipment and equally important non-medical procedures, such as skin-to-skin contact between mothers and babies, feeding babies with breastmilk and parents' involvement in caring for children from the first day of their life, available to premature babies and their parents. The results of this co-operation are also visible in the neonatal intensive care units in Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac, whose Neonatology Centre received today, owing to our partner, Delhaize Serbia, a therapeutic hypothermia device for asphyxiated newborns.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need to improve the conditions for providing care to premature babies, and UNICEF and representatives of the health system of the Republic of Serbia will continue to work together to create the best conditions for each child," stated Yosi Echeverry Burckhardt, Deputy Representative, UNICEF Serbia.

Since 2017, when UNICEF supported the equipping of neonatal intensive care units in Serbia so that prematurely-born and ill newborns would receive adequate support to survive and thrive, UNICEF has invested a total of 61,463,023.00 dinars in modernising the operation of the neonatal service in Serbia.

The World Prematurity Day was marked today, apart from in Belgrade, in all neonatal units in Nis, Novi Sad and Kragujevac, which received a device for asphyxiated newborns, which saves lives of babies who suffered oxygen deprivation during birth.