So small
they could fit inside a heart.
Every baby born too soon is a little hero. But from the very first minute of life, their days are filled with challenges and uncertainty. Donate today to help provide lifesaving medical equipment for premature babies.
10,000+
babies assisted since
2022
64%
of annual goal achieved to
date
4
large centres equipped:
Belgrade, Niš, KG, NS
Your donation helps equip neonatal units and saves babies’ lives
That's why our goal is that every baby gets a chance to survive, thrive and reach their full potential.
Premature babies face great challenges at the very beginning of their lives. They spend their first days and weeks in neonatology units, fighting for every breath, heart beat and body temperature regulation.
Your donation helps us buy life-saving medical equipment for premature babies, which helps these little fighters survive, grow and develop.
Preterm birth is responsible for 60% of all newborn deaths and 42% of all deaths among children under the age of five.
Premature babies need
Specialized medical equipment, including incubators, resuscitation tables, CPAP machines for non-invasive respiratory support and other necessary equipment for the care of the youngest patients.
Continuous presence of parents, their voice and scent, skin-to-skin contact, breastmilk feeding, and other components of developmental care.
It is the combination of advanced medical care and developmental care that forms the foundation of modern neonatal care and provides the best chance for optimal health and development for every baby born too soon
Nationwide focus — with special attention to the south and central Serbia
During the last five years, with the support of our donors, we have significantly strengthened the neonatal intensive care units in large centres in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Niš and Novi Sad and helped treat around 10,000 premature babies, but our work has not yet been completed
Although major medical centers are becoming increasingly well equipped, a baby’s chances of survival still depend on where they are born. That is why our goal is to support the improvement of neonatal care in maternity wards across Serbia.
We put a special focus on the regions of southeastern and central Serbia, where the infant mortality rate remains higher than in other parts of the country.
Your donation helps ensure that babies born too soon have a chance to survive and develop optimally, no matter where they are born.
Your support enables:
- Procurement of modern medical equipment: incubators, resuscitation tables, respirators and mobile Xray machines
- Support for neonatal units: equipment upgrades and training for medical staff
- Improved quality of care: especially for babies born too soon across Serbia.
What can your donation provide?
| One mobile X-ray machine | 13.900.000 RSD |
| One resuscitation table | 2.200.000 RSD |
| One incubator | 2.030.000 RSD |
| One chair for skin-to-skin contact | 48.000 RSD |
What have we achieved together?
State-of-the-art equipment was purchased for neonatal intensive care units across the country, including:
15 incubators to stabilize babies’ vital functions
12 respirators to assist breathing
4 therapeutic hypothermia systems — critical in the first hours of life
3 resuscitation tables and 1 heated table
2 NCPAP devices for non-invasive ventilation
28 infusion pumps for precise medication dosing
1 ambulance for transporting the most vulnerable babies
4 thoracic drainage systems, pulse oximeters, LED lamps and supporting equipment
Developmental care equipment has been also provided: chairs for skin-to-skin contact, noise detectors, covers for incubators, nests for baby positioning, cribs, clothes and towels.
Progress for children — together we reduce infant mortality
SERBIA
4,63
↓
3,06
per 1,000 live births
2010. → 2023.
NIS
7,14
↓
3,89
per 1,000 live births
2021. → 2023.
These results are possible thanks to additional investments in equipment and the training of medical staff. It is clear that investing in neonatal care delivers tangible results and provides premature babies with a chance to survive and develop.
First hand
Lenka and Miona's story
In the first days, mom Milana could only touch her girls through the hatches of the incubator. Skin-to-skin contact, crucial to their recovery, was present from the beginning, but to a limited extent.
“I would go down every three hours, and skin-to-skin contact was possible each time I came to see them. At first, while they were still in the incubator, I could only touch them through the openings, but it was present from day one. As their condition improved each day, more and more contact became possible. In the end, I was able to hold them in my arms.”
— Milana, mother of Lenka and Miona, Novi Sad
Elena's story
“When she was born, Elena weighed only 980 grams. The birth itself is stressful, but it is much more stressful when you cannot be with your baby. The moment I held her in my arms and brought her close to my chest, the magic began… Everything stopped, and only the two of us mattered in that moment.”
— Mirjana, Elena's mother, Kragujevac
FAQ
What does UNICEF do in Serbia?
Our organization supports reform processes in the Republic of Serbia to ensure that every child can realize their rights in early childhood development, education and child protection. We work closely with decision-makers, while also acting as an independent voice for children and young people.
What is the UNICEF Friends Club?
The UNICEF Friends Club is made up of regular donors whose monthly contributions enable UNICEF to provide vital support for children both in emergency situations and every day throughout the year, as part of its regular programme for children in Serbia.
How can I be sure my money is used properly?
UNICEF regularly publishes annual reports on its work and informs the public about the results achieved for children. Transparency is part of our identity. See our 2024 results in Serbia.