World Prematurity Day is celebrated in Moldova on November 17 for the first time this year. During the last 30 years, the rate of premature births hasn’t declined. Doctor Ala Curteanu, project coordinator at the Association of Perinatal Medicine of Moldova, has told IPN that 2/3 of the premature births in Moldova occur in women who are from rural areas.

As many as 1,915 children were born before the normal length of pregnancy in the country last year. The costs for caring for a premature baby range between 126,000 lei and 167,000 lei for 42-63 days of treatment. Ala Curtean said the amounts provided by the National Health Insurance Company – between 17,000 and 22,000 lei – do not cover the price of disposable consumables and the treatment costs. This leads to a rise in the number of infections and to complications. The difference between the real costs and the money allocated by the authorities is covered with money that remain unused at other institutions as the financing allocated to hospitals is not always fully used. The parents of premature babies do not incur costs as the children in Moldova benefit from free medical care.

An estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year globally. 30% of the chronic diseases in grownups are due to prematurity.

On November 17, the Association of Perinatal Medicine of Moldova will carry out a social campaign in Chisinau to raise the awareness of civil society, the community and the public authorities of prematurity and the problems related to it.