The project was launched to coincide with International Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7 and was presented in Zagreb's Merkur hospital on Wednesday.
Around 2,200 premature babies are born in Croatia each year and around 15 million are born around the world. Premature births are one of the leading causes of infant deaths and breastfeeding and parental contact with premature babies can save up to 450,000 lives. Parental contact has been identified as a key factor to speedier recovery of premature babies.
The equipment donated through this project includes breast pumps, armchairs, kangaroo pouch baby carriers, incubator covers, nests for premature babies and other equipment for so-called kangaroo care or "skin to skin" contact of parents and babies.
In addition to the equipment, the project foresees training for parents but also medical staff to stress the importance of breastfeeding for premature babies.
"Through this programme we wish to ensure that breastfeeding is to children's benefit, particularly those most vulnerable. The latest technology and apparatus cannot replace the closeness and warmth of parents' bodies and the goodness of a mother's milk which has been proven to be a medicine for premature babies," the head of UNICEF's Croatia office Valentina Otmacic said.
Health Minister Sinisa Varga underscored that the government programme to protect and promote breastfeeding 2015-2016 is clearly directed to protecting and realising the rights of children to the best possible health care and nutrition from the day they are born.