EUCOM makes donation to maternity wards in Serbia

EUCOM makes donation to maternity wards in Serbia

The donation came as part of B92 Fund's campaign “the Battle for Maternity Wards“.

On this occasion, Gordon Duguid, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, today officially handed over donated equipment to the maternity ward in Cuprija, which consists of one neonatal ventilator, gynecological table, syringe pump and two gynecological chairs for the examination of pregnant women.

“Through the U.S. embassy, the sum of USD 87,928 is secured for the provision of specialized equipment for maternity wards in Serbia. For medical workers, this equipment represents significant additional means for offering health care to women and children. We highly appreciate the efforts of the B92 Fund that managed to motivate other donors to assist in furnishing maternity wards in Serbia. We are also glad that the Ministry of Health is involved in this campaign, which guarantees that the acquired equipment meets hospital needs”, Duguid stated while handing over the equipment.

He added that the importance of the donation was reflected in the fact women will now be able to deliver babies under very modern conditions, with equipment that protects the health of both.

“Every donation represents a big step forward in the quality of service. We have expert and devoted health workers, but they do not have on their disposal modern equipment. This campaign is significant as it provides professionals to perform their job in the best possible way”, Deputy Serbian Health Minister Dejan Kostic stated on the occasion.

Kostic added that he hoped the donation would be "only the first in a series of steps to further develop the entire center, especially in the sensitive segment for our entire country, and that is the number of newborn babies and the health of their mothers."

“When we launched ‘the Battle for Maternity Wards’ two years ago, according to our estimates, we need more than EUR 2.5 million. We were aware that hard work was ahead of us, but we had also known that the success of the campaign depends on our finding appropriate fellow fighters in this significant battle. Now, we know that we have. The U.S. embassy is one of our most active donors. They are always ready to assist us in our socially responsible campaigns that contribute to making Serbia a better place to live”, Veran Matic, president of the B92 Fund Board of Directors, stated, and added:

"A country needs help from the friends who show solidarity in key moments help with socially responsible campaigns that make Serbia a better place to live. We have had a very large number of friends from all over the world who took part and of course we are grateful to them. I think that thought these friendships we will be able to finalize this campaign to fully equip each of the 50 maternity wards in Serbia."

“All staff members of the general hospital in Cuprija want to offer high quality health care service that is available to all the citizens. Today’s donation will help us in doing this. I want to extend my thanks to the U.S. embassy for assisting us in getting most up-to-date equipment”, said the hospital's director, Dr. Marko Ilic.

He also thanked the B92 Fund and Gordon Duguid for the assistance.

Within the same donation of the United States European Command, the maternity ward in Kladovo already received two pulse oximeters and infusion pumps, one reanimation and gynecological table, as well as a baby cot, while the maternity ward in Negotin was provided with ultrasound device, gynecological table, babytherm, as well as six aspirators and three patient monitors with ECG.

Mayor of Cuprija Ninoslav Eric on this occasion received a delegation of the U.S. embassy that included Gordon Duguid, Colonel Corey Shea, Major Todd Andrewsen and Boska Agbaba, from the Office of Defense Cooperation.