ROYAL COUPLE DONATED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT WORTH 22.160.000 CSD (260.000 EUROS) TO THE NICU CENTRE IN BELGRADE

NICU PROJECT DELIVERED MEDICAL APPARATUS TO FOUR SERBIAN CLINICAL CENTRES – TOTAL VALUE 64.170.000 CSD (750.000 EUROS)

Belgrade 18 September 2006 - Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine delivered today valuable medical equipment to the Neonatology Intensive Care Centres in Belgrade.

A number of transportable incubators, warm tables, defibrillators, portable X-rays, nasal pumps, cardio monitors, respirators and other medical apparatus worth approximately 22.100.000 CSD (260.000 Euros) were delivered to The University Children Hospital in Tirsova, Institute for Neonatology and Institute for Obstetric and Gynaecology CSS.

Previously Their Royal Highnesses visited the Clinical Centres in Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac, where they donated new medical equipment for the Neonatal intensive care units in these Centres. The total value of the equipment delivered in four Serbian cities is 64.170.000 CSD (750.000 Euros).

This is in continuation of the effort of the NICU programme, which started in 2005 by the Foundation of HRH Princess Katherine and Lifeline Humanitarian Organisation in cooperation with the Serbian Genecology and NICU directors of the centres of Nis, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Belgrade and of the doctors of the Genecology and NICU of the hospitals in Athens.

“I am more than thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver to the doctors of Serbia this valuable medical equipment that will help our newborn babies survive. Our country has suffered enough in the past. Now it is time to give a chance for our future, to our babies. Serbia unfortunately has one of the highest mortality rates among newborn babies. I am convinced that this medical apparatus, provided with great help from our wonderful Greek donors, friends, supporters and people of good will from all over the world will help our doctors to improve neonatal medical intensive care in Serbia”, stated HRH Crown Princess Katherine today.

General Managers and senior representatives of Greek Banks that supported NICU project together with all the members of Serbian Medical Board for neonatal intensive care joined Their Royal Highnesses today at the press conference in the Children Hospital. Directors of ten Health Centres and Primary Health Care Centres in Serbia that will benefit from NICU project also attended today’s great humanitarian delivery.

Her Royal Highness also officially opened the new Centre for diabetes in Pregnancy “HRH Princess Katherine” situated at the Institute for Endocrinology CCS. This Centre has been reconstructed and equipped thanks to the donation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation. The value of this donation is 1.275.000 CSD (15.000 Euros). This Centre will help women fight diabetes during the pregnancy.