Cyprus has the highest premature birth rate among European Union member states at 11.1%, Health Minister Michael Damianou announced on Thursday during a ceremony at Limassol General Hospital.
The minister’s remarks came as the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit received a respiratory support device valued at €14,500, donated by the Cans for Kids charity.
“The high rate of prematurity in our country makes the upgrading of neonatal care services imperative, both in terms of equipment and support for families facing the challenges of prematurity,” Damianou said during the handover ceremony.
The specialised CPAP driver enables the administration of precise oxygen concentrations without requiring additional air supply, a capability not available with existing equipment in the unit. The device can also provide ventilatory support when necessary for both premature and full-term newborns.
Health officials note that premature births—defined as deliveries before 37 weeks of gestation—present significant challenges requiring specialised care and equipment. The respiratory system of premature infants is often underdeveloped, necessitating various levels of breathing support.
Damianou highlighted that the government has established appropriate structures and specialized medical personnel at both Makarios Hospital in Nicosia and Limassol General Hospital, where the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was upgraded in 2017 to serve the needs of Limassol and Paphos districts.
“The Unit has all the necessary infrastructure and equipment, as well as specialized staff consisting of five well-trained neonatologists and all the necessary nursing personnel,” the minister explained. The facility is equipped to care for newborns over 33 weeks gestational age and weighing more than 1,500 grams.
According to the minister, the department features five intensive care beds and ten intermediate care beds, treating approximately 400 newborns annually. It is equipped with advanced ventilators and end-expiratory pressure delivery devices specifically designed for neonates, a transport incubator with ventilator, and modern incubators for all positions.
The unit stabilises premature newborns before transferring them to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Makarios Hospital for further treatment when necessary. It also provides care for premature infants transferred from Makarios Hospital whose parents reside in the Limassol and Paphos districts.
International research indicates that premature births are associated with various factors including maternal age, multiple pregnancies resulting from fertility treatments, and certain health conditions.
(Pictures by Emma Louise Charalambous)
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