Romania's infant mortality rate remains two times higher than the EU average rate, a release of the Save the Children Romania informs.

There are counties in Romania where the infant mortality rate is double than the country average and even higher. Document also shows that Romania is facing a serious incapacity to meet the needs of neonatal care.

Insufficient medical equipment is a frequent problem in Romania - according to Save the Children.

Thus, 13% of the level I maternities do not have a standard incubator for premature newborns, more than half of the level II maternities do not have a respiratory ventilation system, and 14% of the third level maternities have a single emergency neonatal resuscitation device.

Latest national maternity endowment project dates back more than ten years, while some appliances are already out of order and can no longer be used.

Under these circumstances, authors of the study draw attention to the fact that there are counties where the infant mortality rate reaches worrying values.

Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save the Children - Romania: We have analyzed the situation in the country and observed that the infant mortality rate is very high in the vulnerable socio-economic counties. For example, the worst situation is in the counties of Botoșani, at a rate of 12.9 per thousand, and Călărași - 12.5 per thousand.

Investing in maternity provision, developing support programs for mothers, especially in rural areas, and doubling the number of beds in neonatal intensive care are solutions identified by specialists that can reduce the infant mortality rate.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei