UNICEF, with the support of Milšped, delivers two incubators to the neonatology unit of the University Clinical Centre Niš

Niš, 6 March 2026 – The neonatology service of the University Clinical Centre Niš has received two modern incubators thanks to a donation from Milšped, provided through the campaign “So Small They Fit Inside a Heart”, which UNICEF is implementing with partners across Serbia.

The incubators provide stable and controlled conditions for the care of premature babies and newborns with health complications, including precise temperature regulation and respiratory support, with continuous monitoring of vital parameters.

Through its long-standing cooperation with UNICEF, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia has been continuously improving the quality of perinatal and neonatal health care by introducing modern standards, strengthening the capacities of health institutions and providing medical equipment across the country. These efforts have led to a steady decline in neonatal mortality nationwide. In the region of south-eastern Serbia, neonatal mortality has decreased from 6.37 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 3.67 in 2024, but the rate remains higher than the national average of 2.89. This donation contributes to these efforts and further strengthens neonatal health care capacities in Serbia.

Each year, the Intensive Care, Perinatology and Neonatology Department of the Paediatrics Clinic at the University Clinical Centre Niš cares for 500–600 newborns who are either premature or critically ill, whether they were born in Niš or in other maternity hospitals across the south-eastern region.

“For these babies, the moment of birth is the moment when the fight for life begins. In such situations, it is crucial that the capacities of our neonatal intensive care unit match the real needs so that we can provide timely support, continuity of therapy in line with European standards, and the same level of care for every child and every mother who accompanies them. Our clinic has skilled and experienced staff, and modern equipment allows us to apply this knowledge to its full extent. We are grateful to Milšped and UNICEF for their support, as it enables us to strengthen our capacities and ensure equal opportunities for every child, regardless of where they are born,” said Prof. Dr Jelena Vojinović, Director of the Paediatrics Clinic at the University Clinical Centre Niš.

The donation also highlights the importance of public–private partnerships and long-term commitment to investing in the earliest period of life. Milšped emphasises that the decision to make this donation reflects the company’s responsibility towards the community.

“With today’s donation of two incubators to the Paediatrics Clinic in Niš, we want to make a concrete contribution to improving conditions for the treatment and care of the youngest and most vulnerable patients. Although over the years we have built a strong business network across Asia, Europe and the Americas, we remain deeply committed to the local community where we began.

We believe that investing in children’s health is the most valuable investment, because we know how sensitive the first days of life are, especially for babies born prematurely. Our partnership with UNICEF has enabled us to direct our donation to where it can make the most tangible and meaningful difference, because every child deserves the best possible chance for a safe start in life. If we have helped even one child begin life more safely, and given parents days with less worry, we know we have done the right thing,” said Petra Mostarčić Iković, Member of the Supervisory Board, Milšped Group.

UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health in strengthening the health system to respond to the specific needs of the most vulnerable newborns by improving the implementation of modern standards, supporting more efficient system organisation, training health workers and providing specialised modern equipment.

“We are extremely proud of the significant improvement in the capacities of the neonatal and intensive care departments in Niš, which will enable quality care for premature and ill newborns from across the region of south-eastern Serbia. We are very grateful to Milšped for their contribution and today’s donation. In addition to modern equipment, this clinic strives to apply the principles of family-centred developmental care by supporting parents’ presence with their newborn, skin-to-skin contact, and continuous feeding with mother’s milk. In this way, the essential bond between mother, parents and child is preserved, which is crucial for the optimal development of both the child and the entire family,” said Dr Jelena Zajeganović Jakovljević, UNICEF Serbia Health and Early Childhood Development Specialist.

For parents, having a child in a neonatology unit represents one of the most challenging experiences in early parenthood.

“The first days were filled with fear and uncertainty. Every small step forward felt like a big victory. When the doctors explained how important stable conditions and good equipment are for recovery, and then allowed us moments of skin-to-skin contact, we felt that we were not alone and that our baby had the right support,” said Milica Stanojević, the mother of a baby girl born at the end of February in the 35th week of pregnancy who spent her first days in intensive care.

The campaign “So Small They Fit Inside a Heart” continues to bring partners together and calls on companies and individuals to support improvements in neonatal care through their donations and help ensure a safer start in life for every baby in Serbia.