Mastercard and Banca Transilvania, in partnership with Save the Children Romania, launch the program "We support the hardest beginnings", a €1.5 million initiative to reduce infant mortality in Romania

• The initiative is based on three key strands: equipping maternity wards with state-of-the-art medical equipment, continuous training of medical staff and post-natal monitoring of at-risk newborns through specialized centres and an innovative digital application.
  
  
• The actions will take place in university centers and maternity hospitals in Cluj, Iași, Mureș, Timiș and Bucharest, with the aim of creating a modern neonatal care network.
  
  
• The initiative aims to contribute to lower the infant mortality rate in Romania, from 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) for 2023) to the EU average of 3.3.
  
  

Mastercard and Banca Transilvania, in partnership with Save the Children Romania, are launching "We support the hardest beginnings", a large neonatal health program worth 1.5 million euro, to be carried out over a period of three years. The project proposes an integrated approach to monitoring and early intervention for premature newborns, structured in three main directions: equipping maternity wards with state-of-the-art equipment, continuous training of medical staff and follow-up of children after discharge, by supporting the centers for the follow-up of at-risk newborns in five grade III maternity wards and the creation of a digital application.

The main objective is to help reduce infant mortality in Romania by improving care for premature newborns. The program will start in Cluj county and will gradually expand to Iasi, Mures, Timis and Bucharest.

We always want technology and the resources we have to be where they can change lives. This project gives even more meaning to the words innovation and solidarity, proof that when companies, doctors and social organizations work together, they can build a better future for the most vulnerable. For us, supporting the most difficult beginnings means investing in hope and in the future.

Cosmin Vladimirescu
General Manager
Mastercard Romania and Croatia

Romania continues to have the highest infant mortality rate in the European Union, with 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to the European average of 3.3. Around 1,000 children under the age of one lose their lives each year and more than 15,000 are born prematurely. Prematurity is the main cause of these losses, exacerbated by a lack of modern medical equipment, a shortage of specialized staff and the absence of continuous follow-up programs for difficult cases after discharge.

Child mortality is one of the indicators that reflect the health of a country. We are supporting this project precisely because the future must start with care, solidarity and hope, and we can make this more relevant in the community, in partnership. Together with Mastercard and Save the Children, we will put together the best we have - resources, expertise, soul and energy - for the children and mothers of Romania. We strongly believe in the importance of supporting these children and their families, both at the beginning of their journey and through multidisciplinary follow-up programs, in order to ensure the best preconditions for their healthy development in the first years of life.

OanaIlaș
Deputy General Manager Retail Banking
Banca Transilvania

An integrated approach for the toughest beginnings

For babies born prematurely, every breath is a struggle, every moment is dependent on machines, and every tomorrow is won with the support of those around you. No beginning should be a battle fought alone.

Every year, thousands of babies are born prematurely and need special care from the very first moments. We cannot talk about the future while the beginning of life is so fragile. That is why, together with Mastercard and Banca Transilvania, we are building a program that not only brings medical equipment, but also hope, competence and continuity in the care of these children. This program is proof that solidarity and responsibility can change statistics, but, more importantly, can save lives.

Gabriela Alexandrescu
Executive President
Save the Children Romania

"Supporting the hardest beginnings" is based on a unified approach, covering all critical stages of neonatal care through:

• Equipping and modernizing maternity wards - neonatology and pediatric wards will be equipped with modern equipment essential for saving critically ill newborns. The maternity hospitals concerned will be equipped to provide specialized care for premature babies and children with complex conditions, ensuring high-quality treatment in critical situations.
  
  
• Medical training for staff caring for critically ill newborns - in a context of a shortage of skilled personnel, continuous training of health professionals is vital. The programme includes courses in neonatal resuscitation, delivery room stabilization and intensive care to strengthen the skills of medical teams and reduce the risk of death or severe complications.
  
  
• Digitization of the monitoring system and strengthening of the follow-up program for newborns at risk in grade III maternity hospitals - the child's health status at discharge does not always reflect the long-term evolution, especially in the case of premature babies or children with complex pathologies. The program will support the at-risk newborn follow-up centers in five maternity wards, which will ensure regular assessment of at-risk newborns in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. At the same time, an innovative digital application will facilitate communication between medical specialists, family doctors and parents, ensuring efficient follow-up of the child after discharge. This solution contributes to the early identification of possible neurological, respiratory or developmental impairments, preventing disabilities and improving the quality of life of children.

Through these actions, the program will improve the quality of health care for more than 1,500 newborns each year and contribute to the training of more than 100 health professionals.

"We Support the Hardest Beginnings" is a shared commitment for life, for equity and for a future where every child has the chance to grow up healthy. Through collaboration between the private, non-governmental sector and the medical system, this initiative has the potential to become a model of good practice in child health in Romania, contributing to the prevention of disabilities and to the long-term improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of at-risk newborns.

About Save the Children Organization

For 35 years, Save the Children Romania has been building social programs, public policies and sound practices for the benefit of Romanian children. The expertise and the complexity of projects at national level make the organization an essential social institution, whose role is to mediate between society and public authority for the benefit of the child. In its more than three decades of activity, Save the Children has actively intervened in society, identifying concrete solutions for the protection and support of vulnerable children, while at the same time advocating for a viable collaboration with the decision-making authorities to ensure the best interests of the child. Save the Children has taken on the role of vigilant monitoring of public authorities so that they implement lasting public policies to correct the causes that lead to children's vulnerability. At the same time, the organization has succeeded in creating active networks of solidarity by encouraging social responsibility in business and society at large. As a member of Save the Children, the world's largest independent children's rights organization with 30 members and programs in 118 countries, our VISION is a world that respects every child's right to survival, education, protection and participation, and our MISSION is to achieve breakthroughs in the way children are treated and immediate and lasting change in their lives. Over 4,150,000 children have been involved in Save the Children's programs and campaigns.

For more information, contact: Stefania Mircea, project manager, email: stefania.mircea@salvaticopiii.ro, tel: 0745 375 148

About Banca Transilvania

BT (BVB:TLV) is the leader in the Romanian banking market and the largest bank in Southeast Europe. With a universal bank business model, it offers solutions to all customer categories and business lines in the financial sector. It has over 22% market share, almost 5 million customers, around 10,000 employees, online banking solutions and 530 branches in 180 locations. BT assumes an active role in Romania's sustainable development and its strategy is to generate a positive impact for people, business environment and local communities.

Press contact details: comunicare@btrl.ro.

About Mastercard 

Mastercard supports economies and improves people's lives in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Together with our customers, we are building a sustainable economy where every person can prosper. We offer a diverse range of digital payment options, ensuring secure, simple, smart and affordable transactions. Through technology, innovation, partnerships and our extensive networks, we deliver a unique set of products and services that support individuals, businesses and governments to reach their full potential.

www.mastercard.com