On the eve of World Premature Children’s Day, which is celebrated on November 17, UMBAL Burgas received a top-class incubator. It was donated to the Department of Neonatology by Atanas and Gergana Atanasovi. The money for the equipment was raised by the guests at their wedding, instead of flowers and gifts.
The incubator has already been handed over to the ward team, where they save the lives of the smallest and most fragile babies. This is a top-of-the-line model from a reputable German manufacturer.
There are only 10 such incubators in Bulgaria, in the largest neonatology clinics in university hospitals. Its main advantage is the built-in disinfection system, which automatically destroys bacteria and viruses that may enter the environment. It is equipped with additional sensors for measuring oxygen concentration.
Oxygen in high doses can cause damage to premature babies, so its correct dosage is one of the most important things in intensive care. The incubator also has sensors that precisely measure the temperature and humidity and take into account the individual characteristics of the baby to create the most comfortable environment for him.
“One of the specialists in the department – neonatologist Dr. Miroslava Koleva, is our friend. We have talked many times about the difficulties that accompany her work, about how important it is for every premature child to be cared for not only with knowledge and skills, but also with good equipment. That’s why we decided to dedicate our wedding to this cause, to help her and her colleagues have the best,” said Atanas and Gergana Atanasovi. The guests welcomed the idea, as did their grown daughter, who also donated funds.
The gift arrived on the eve of World Premature Children’s Day.
This is the day when doctors and parents together pay attention to the needs of these special babies and their families. Only three decades ago, a large proportion of those born prematurely did not survive, and others were left with lifelong disabilities.
But today, thanks to the progress of medicine, qualified staff and high technology, more and more children have a chance to live. All that is needed is desire and united efforts so that Bulgarian neonatologists can count not only on support from donors, but also on serious state investments – in the preparation of qualified staff, equipment and living conditions.
In 2023, the Department of Neonatology of UMBAL Burgas cared for 188 premature children. This year the number is 144. The percentage of prematures admitted to the ward is about 12% every year.
There were 7 children with the lowest – fourth degree of prematurity – weighing less than 1 kilogram.
Patients of UMBAL Burgas are not only babies born in the hospital – both last year and this year, children from maternity wards of other medical institutions are admitted here.
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