UNICEF Donates Incubator to the Institute of Neonatology

Belgrade, May 22, 2025 – UNICEF today delivered a new incubator to the Institute of Neonatology in Belgrade, to support the care of prematurely born babies. End of last year, the Institute also received a specially designed chair for skin-to-skin contact between parents and newborns. Both pieces of equipment were provided through the “So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart” campaign, which aims to equip and modernize neonatal intensive care units across Serbia.

“The support we continue to receive from UNICEF and its partners is truly significant,” said prim. dr sci. med Radmila Mileusnić-Milenović, Acting Director of the Institute of Neonatology in Belgrade. “This assistance is reflected not only in the provision of essential medical equipment, but also in efforts to strengthen professional capacities and implement the highest European standards in the care and treatment of premature babies. UNICEF has also supported the adoption of national guidelines that promote close parent-infant contact from the very first day. We are sincerely grateful to BATES d.o.o. for funding the new incubator, and to UNICEF for its long-standing and dedicated partnership.”

Each year, the Institute of Neonatology in Belgrade provides care for between 750 and 800 newborns, representing roughly a quarter of all premature births in Serbia. It is also the facility where every second infant born weighing less than 1,500 grams receives treatment. The average hospital stay for these babies is approximately 40 days, depending on their level of development and any medical complications.

“In recent years, UNICEF has invested nearly one million dollars into enhancing neonatal care in Serbia,” stated Deyana Kostadinova, UNICEF Representative in Serbia. “Through our collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the support of numerous partners, we have equipped medical facilities with state-of-the-art technology, trained hundreds of healthcare professionals, and helped develop national clinical guidelines to improve care for every newborn. However, UNICEF’s work goes beyond this. We also advocate for care that keeps families together — because a baby’s healing begins not only in an incubator, but in the embrace of their parents.”

For many years, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, in partnership with UNICEF, has been committed to strengthening neonatal care by investing in modern medical equipment, aligning with international standards, and providing continuous training for healthcare professionals. These combined efforts have led to a steady decline in neonatal mortality rates in Serbia—from 4.63 per 1,000 live births in 2010 to 3.06 in 2023. However, despite this progress, regional disparities remain a significant concern. In areas served by Kragujevac and Niš, neonatal mortality rates are up to twice as high as those recorded in Belgrade and Vojvodina. These inequalities underscore the importance of sustained, targeted investment, as premature babies are born every day—and each one deserves the same opportunity to survive and thrive.

“The Ministry of Health and UNICEF are working together to ensure that every child—regardless of where they are born or the conditions they are born into—has access to the highest standards of neonatal intensive care. Quality medical care, professional expertise, and a nurturing environment must not be privileges, but basic rights for every newborn,” said Prof. Dr. Ivana Stašević Karličić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health. “UNICEF has been a valuable and long-standing partner, supporting our efforts to improve maternal and child health and to integrate the latest international standards into everyday healthcare practice in Serbia. The health and development of babies and young children are among our top priorities, and we are proud to continue this partnership.”

Through investments in cutting-edge equipment, the continuous development of healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills, and the creation of opportunities for parents to be with their newborns from the moment of birth, we are ensuring the survival and development of the most vulnerable infants.

“We are proud that our support has reached those who need it most, helping the most vulnerable newborns survive and overcome their earliest challenges so they can return home to their families as soon as possible. Since 2021, BATES d.o.o. has been supporting various UNICEF programs in Serbia, guided by our trust in their expertise and belief in their mission. We value this partnership and the contribution we've made to strengthening our healthcare system. Our commitment to children and young people in Serbia remains strong—because they are the future of our country,” said Ivana Kereš, speaking on behalf of BATES d.o.o.

Since December 2024, UNICEF has raised around 16 million dinars, owing to the generous support of companies and individual donors. These funds have been used to purchase essential medical equipment, including three incubators—donated to the Institute of Neonatology in Belgrade, GAK Narodni Front, and the neonatal unit at the University Clinical Center Niš. Each incubator was accompanied by a specially designed chair to support skin-to-skin bonding between parents and newborns.

UNICEF continues to invite companies and individuals to support the ongoing equipping of neonatal units across Serbia, helping provide the highest standard of care to the country’s most vulnerable newborns.

Be part of the change and donate now at: Tako mali da bi u srce stali (So Small They Could Fit Inside a Heart).