Save the Children Romania, integrated programs and investments aimed at combating infant mortality

Romania has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the European Union, with 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to the EU average of 3.3. In this context, Save the Children Romania announces the expansion of strategic programs to reduce infant mortality, by equipping maternity hospitals and neonatology, pediatrics and obstetrics-gynecology departments, modernizing medical infrastructure, implementing a pilot program for monitoring newborns at risk and strengthening the continuous training of specialized medical personnel. According to the organization, approximately 1,000 Romanian children under one year old lose their fight for life annually, and the situation is even worse in rural areas, where the infant mortality rate reaches 6.6 per 1,000 children, compared to 4.6 in urban areas (INS 2023). The causes are multiple: lack of high-performance medical equipment, difficult access to medical services, low level of information for parents, poverty and shortage of specialists in rural areas. Gabriela Alexandrescu, executive president of Save the Children, explains the importance of the interventions: "The program to equip maternity hospitals and neonatal intensive care units is a priority for us. After 15 years of pioneering work, the program has become extensive and responds to the real needs of mothers and vulnerable newborns.” Complications of prematurity are a major cause of infant mortality and require high-performance medical equipment, qualified personnel, adapted infrastructure and education programs for parents. Between 2010 and the present, Save the Children has modernized and equipped 135 medical units with neonatology, neonatal ICU, pediatrics and obstetrics-gynecology departments, investing over 17 million euros and facilitating the treatment of over 300,000 children through more than 2,000 pieces of medical equipment. In 2025, the organization completed the rehabilitation works of three vital wards of Polizu Maternity Hospital, including the ICU Section, the Operating Block and the Obstetrics-Gynecology Section 4, on an area of approximately 700 sq m, with a total investment of 3.6 million euros, also purchasing an electric generator for the safety of the hospital's activity. Save the Children is implementing a pilot post-discharge monitoring program for at-risk newborns in five level III maternity hospitals. The initiative aims to identify medical and neurological development problems early and ensure specialized long-term care. In parallel, the organization supports the continuous training of medical personnel, through theoretical and practical sessions, workshops and training in neonatal resuscitation techniques, newborn stabilization and intensive therapy. The strategic directions for reducing infant mortality are the following: Equipping level III maternity hospitals in university centers (Cluj, Iaşi, Timişoara, Bucharest, Târgu Mureş); Equipping lower-grade maternity hospitals with equipment adapted to the competencies of each unit; Renovating and modernizing medical units, reducing inequalities and providing modern and safe conditions; Post-discharge medical monitoring for premature babies or children with pathologies; Continuous training of medical staff for complex interventions and constant updating of treatment protocols.

For over 35 years, the organization has been developing social programs and public policies for child protection in Romania, supporting vulnerable children and promoting collaboration with public authorities.