Vodafone Foundation equips 21 neonatology and neonatal intensive care units

In 2023, Vodafone Foundation has started equipping four level I and II neonatology and neonatal intensive care units with specialized medical equipment and connecting another 17 level III units across the country to the national telemedicine network through the “Life for Newborns Fund” program. The investment in this second phase of the “Life for Newborns Fund” program, which will end at the end of March 2024, is up to €450,000. The projects are implemented in partnership with Fundația Cristi Vasiliu (ACV Romania), Dincolo de Azi Association, Fundatia Comunitară Cluj and Fundația Comunitară Banatul Montan.

The level I neonatology units of the hospitals in Câmpulung, Luduș and Moldova Nouă and the level II intensive care unit in Cluj will receive, by the end of March 2024, 60 pieces of equipment including infusion pumps, oxygen bladders, blood gas machines, biochemistry, vital function monitors, central monitoring stations, laminar flow hoods, as well as nursing chairs and medical furniture. Approximately 4,000 babies, more than 10% of whom were born with medical problems in these units, will benefit from better conditions for admission, diagnosis and treatment.

„In the level I and II neonatology units and wards in the country, the medical context is often complicated. There is a lack of equipment, especially modern equipment, a lack of medical education among patients, a low economic status, unplanned pregnancies and a worrying percentage of underage mothers. There are situations where the level I and II maternity units have to provide care for mothers and newborns with complex medical conditions. In order to stabilise patients before possible transfer, it is essential to equip these medical units with specific diagnostic and treatment equipment. This is the only way to ensure decent treatment conditions and the best chance of life for newborn babies.”, says Angela Galeța, director of Vodafone Foundation.

The 17 units  included in the telemedicine network in this phase of the “Life for Newborns Fund” program are located in key hospitals in Bucharest (Filantropia Maternity, Grigore Alexandrescu Childrens’ Hospital, Institute for Mother and Child Alfred Rusescu – Polizu, „Sf. Pantelimon” Emergency Clinical Hospital, „Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, „Sf. Ioan” Emergency Clinical Hospital, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology  „Prof. dr. Panait Sârbu”, University Emergency Hospital); Bacău (Bacău County Emergency Hospital); Galați (“Sf. Apostol Andrei” Emergency County Clinical Hospital Galaţi); Oradea (Emergency Clinical County Hospital Oradea); Sibiu (Emergency Clinical County Hospital Sibiu); Suceava (“Sf. Ioan cel Nou” Emergency County Hospital Suceava); Târgovişte (Emergency County Hospital Târgovişte); Timișoara (Timişoara County Emergency Clinical Hospital and “Pius Brânzeu” Emergency County Clinical Hospital through the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Dr. Dumitru Popescu”).

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With the telemedicine system, doctors can quickly connect with specialists in other health units in the country or abroad, safely send medical data, debate a diagnosis and ask for a second opinion, decide whether the patient should be transferred to a higher-ranking unit or can be treated in the unit where he or she is. This exchange of information speeds up medical decision-making for more than 6,000 newborns with severe medical conditions admitted annually to level III wards, for whom time is often a critical factor between life and death.

 Until the start of the “Life for Newborns Fund” program in Romania there were 10 neonatal intensive care units equipped with telemedicine systems, three of them (Marie Curie Hospital in Bucharest, Constanța County Hospital and Mureș County Clinical Hospital) also equipped through Vodafone Foundation programs. With the addition of the 17 level III neonatal intensive care units to the existing telemedicine network, all 25 level III units and two level II units in the country will be connected, ensuring an optimal communication framework between the 27 wards.

The “Life for Newborns Fund” is a Vodafone Foundation program aimed at renovating, modernising and equipping neonatal units and wards in public hospitals throughout the country with medical equipment. In order to supplement the existing budget and extend the programme to as many medical units as possible, the Vodafone Foundation is continuing its fundraising campaign, addressing both the general public and companies. The methods of making donations to the program are as follows:

For individuals:

– 2 euros, by SMS with the message “RITM” to 8845.

– Any amount on the Vodafone Foundation website by clicking here.

– By directing 3.5% of your annual income tax by filling in this form until 25 May 2024.

For legal entities:

– By redirecting corporate income tax for companies and income tax for micro-enterprises by completing this form.

– By direct sponsorship under the conditions of a reduction of the corporation tax payable by the amount of the sponsorship offered, provided that the following limits are respected (minimum of): 20% of the corporation tax due; 0.75% of the turnover.

Romania has the highest infant mortality rate in the European Union (EU) with 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, almost twice as much as the infant mortality in EU which is 3.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. Only in 14 cities in the country, where there are level III units equipped with the necessary intensive care equipment, can newborns with severe conditions receive adequate care. Babies with major medical risks cannot be treated in the remaining 169 level I and level II neonatal units and wards and must be transferred to level III units. For some of them, a transfer will mean a delay in medical intervention and can have fatal consequences. At the same time, placements in level III neonatal nursing units are limited and can only take cases according to availability.