• The initiative rests on three pillars: equipping maternity hospitals with advanced medical equipment, continuous training for medical staff, and postnatal monitoring of at-risk newborns through specialized centres and an innovative digital app.
  
  
• Activities will take place in the academic centres and maternity hospitals in Cluj, Iași, Mureș, Timiș and Bucharest, with the aim of building a modern neonatal care network.
  
  
• The initiative aims to help bring Romania’s infant mortality rate down from 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (according to National Institute of Statistics (INS) data for 2023) towards the European Union average of 3.3.
  
  

Mastercard and Banca Transilvania, in partnership with Save the Children Romania, are launching "Supporting the Toughest Starts", a comprehensive neonatal health program worth EUR 1.5 million, to be implemented over three years. The project proposes an integrated model of monitoring and early intervention for premature newborns, structured around three pillars: equipping maternity hospitals with advanced equipment, continuous training for medical staff, and post-discharge follow-up of children by supporting follow-up centres for at-risk newborns in five Level III maternity hospitals and by creating a digital app.

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 Iași, Mureș, Timiș and Bucharest.

We want technology and the resources we have to always be where they can change lives. This project gives even greater 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 toughest starts means investing in hope and in the future.

Cosmin Vladimirescu
General Manager
Mastercard Romania and Croatia

Romania continues to record the highest infant mortality rate in the European Union, with 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with the European average of 3.3. Approximately 1,000 children under one year of age lose their lives every year, and over 15,000 are born prematurely. Prematurity is the main driver of these losses, compounded by the lack of modern medical equipment, shortages of specialized staff and the absence of continuous follow-up programs for complex cases after discharge.

Infant mortality is one of the indicators that reflect a country’s health. We support this project precisely because the future must start with care, solidarity and hope, and we can make this much more relevant in the community, in partnership. Together with Mastercard and Save the Children, we will bring together the best we have — resources, expertise, heart and energy — for children and mothers in Romania. We strongly believe in the importance of supporting these children and their families, both at the very beginning and through multidisciplinary follow-up programs, to give them the best chances for healthy development in their first years of life.

Oana Ilaș
Deputy CEO, Retail Banking
Banca Transilvania

An integrated approach for the toughest starts

For babies born prematurely, every breath is a struggle, every moment depends on equipment, and each tomorrow is won with the support of those around them. No beginning should have to be a battle fought alone.

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

Gabriela Alexandrescu
Executive President
Save the Children Romania

"Supporting the Toughest Starts" is built on a unified approach, covering all the critical stages of neonatal care through:

• Equipping and modernizing maternity hospitals – neonatal and pediatrics departments will be equipped with modern devices essential for saving newborns in critical condition. Targeted maternity hospitals 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 marked by a shortage of qualified personnel, continuous training is vital. The program includes courses in neonatal resuscitation, stabilization in the delivery room and intensive care, designed to strengthen the capabilities of medical teams and reduce the risk of death or severe complications.
  
  
• Digitizing the monitoring system and strengthening the at-risk newborn follow-up program in Level III maternity hospitals – a child’s condition at discharge does not always predict long-term outcomes, especially for premature babies or children with complex pathologies. The program will support follow-up centres for at-risk newborns in five maternity hospitals, providing periodic assessments for at-risk newborns in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. In addition, an innovative digital app will facilitate communication among specialists, family doctors and parents, ensuring effective follow-up of the child after discharge. This solution helps identify potential neurological, respiratory or developmental deficits early, preventing disabilities and improving children’s quality of life.

Through these actions, the program will improve the quality of medical care for over 1,500 newborns annually and will contribute to training more than 100 healthcare professionals.

"Supporting the Toughest Starts" is a shared commitment to life, equity and a future in which every child has the chance to grow up healthy. By bringing together the private and non-governmental sectors with the medical system, this initiative can become a model of good practice in child health in Romania, helping prevent disabilities and, over the long term, improve both the quality of care and the follow-up of at-risk newborns.

About Save the Children

For 35 years, Save the Children Romania has been building social programs, public policies and robust practices for the benefit of children in Romania. The breadth of its expertise and projects nationwide makes the organization an essential social institution that mediates between society and public authorities in the best interests of the child. Over more than three decades of activity, Save the Children has intervened actively in society, identifying concrete solutions to protect and support vulnerable children, while advocating effective collaboration with decision-making authorities to uphold the child’s best interests. Save the Children has taken on the role of vigilant oversight of public authorities to ensure they implement lasting public policies that address the root causes of child vulnerability. At the same time, the organization has succeeded in creating active networks of solidarity by encouraging the social responsibility of companies and of society at large. As a member of Save the Children, the largest independent child rights organization in the world, 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 drive significant progress in the way children are treated, delivering immediate and lasting changes in their lives. More than 4,150,000 children have taken part in Save the Children’s programs and campaigns.

For more information, contact: Ștefania Mircea, Project Manager, email: stefania.mircea@salvaticopiii.ro, tel: 0745 375 148

About Banca Transilvania

BT (BVB:TLV) is the leader of the banking market in Romania and the largest bank in South-Eastern Europe. With a universal banking model, it serves all customer segments and business lines across the financial sector. It has a market share of over 22%, almost 5 million customers, approximately 10,000 employees, online banking solutions and 530 branches across 180 locations. BT plays an active role in Romania’s sustainable development, and its strategy focuses on generating a positive impact for people, the business environment and local communities.

Press contact details: comunicare@btrl.ro.

About Mastercard 

Mastercard powers economies and makes people’s lives better in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we are building a sustainable economy in which everyone can thrive. We provide a diversified range of digital payment options, ensuring transactions that are safe, simple, smart and accessible. Through our technology, innovation, partnerships and extensive networks, we offer a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments reach their full potential.

www.mastercard.com