Children's intensive care under fire

The City Clinical Multidisciplinary Hospital №25* in Kharkiv has one of the few specialized neonatal intensive care units that provides care for children born much earlier than the due date – at 24-25 weeks of pregnancy. These are patients with extremely low birth weight, immature organs and systems that require constant medical supervision, respiratory support, vital functions monitoring and highly accurate medication dosage. Their survival and further development depend entirely on the level of equipment of the unit and the coordinated work of the medical team.

Despite the war, regular shelling, power outages and lack of resources, the medical team at the hospital continues to care for babies born too soon. There are no pauses or vacations here – only constant anxiety, work in an unstable environment and great responsibility. The children's intensive care units cannot wait for better times. They need support – here and now.

We want to purchase critical equipment for the neonatal intensive care unit:

• 3 ATMOS C 261 Aspirators/ DDS,

• 2 Aitecs 2016 syringe infusion pumps.

Aspirators are also called a "second wind" for a baby. It is a powerful medical device that removes mucus, fluid, and secretions from a newborn's airway to allow them to breathe freely. For premature babies who have not yet developed the ability to clear their airways on their own, an aspirator is literally a chance to breathe in with a full chest. It is used to cleanse the infant's airways of mucus and sputum; prevent respiratory failure and pneumonia; and stabilize the condition during crisis situations.

In case of delayed suctioning of mucus, respiratory arrest or a serious complication may occur. Having an aspirator at each bedside is critical – especially in conditions of unstable logistics and the inability to transfer equipment between patients.

A syringe infusion pump provides precise dosing of life-saving medications. Prematurely born babies require particularly precise dosing of medicines, as even a few microliters can make a difference: save or harm. An infusion pump allows you to deliver medicines or nutrients slowly and with ultra-high accuracy – 24/7, without the risk of human error. This device provides continuous administration of vital medications (antibiotics, infusion solutions, pain relief); control over the rate and volume of fluid administration; minimizes dosing errors. It is like an "artificial nurse's hand" that never gets tired. In a crisis situation, the pump ensures a stable administration of the drug – and thus maintains the stability of the child's condition.

We are raising funds to purchase 5 units of equipment needed to care for preterm infants in Kharkiv.

Each donation is a contribution to someone's first breath, first look at the world and first victory over death.

*Full name of the hospital: Municipal non-profit enterprise "City Clinical Multidisciplinary Hospital №25" of the Kharkiv City Council.