A premature birth presents families with enormous challenges. In addition to highly specialised intensive care in neonatology units, parents need one thing above all in this phase filled with fear and uncertainty: human closeness and reliable support.
This is where the non-profit organisation Frühchen & Neokinder Schweiz steps in. Currently, 97 voluntary staff visit and support affected families directly on site in nine hospitals in German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino (Kantonsspital Aarau, Kantonsspital Baden, Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel, Ospedale San Giovanni Bellinzona, Inselspital Bern, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Ostschweizer Kinderspital St. Gallen, Universitätsspital Zürich and Universitäts-Kinderspital Zürich). However, the challenge does not end upon hospital discharge: a successful start in life also requires a lot of understanding from the surroundings and often long-term support.
"In Switzerland, we can count ourselves lucky that the neonatology units provide excellent services. However, a good start in life also requires a private and professional environment that relieves the parents of enormous pressure and supports them," emphasises Managing Director Dina Hediger. "Our goal is to ensure that no affected family in Switzerland has to go through this difficult journey alone and in uncertainty."
To give a stronger voice to the premature babies, Frühchen & Neokinder Schweiz is organising this year's Swiss World Prematurity Day on November 15 in Lucerne for those affected and those interested.
Luca Hänni is also showing his support spontaneously by wearing the purple solidarity ribbon as a sign of connection with prematurely and sickly born children and their families.
Contact for media enquiries:
Frühchen & Neokinder Schweiz
Dina Hediger, dina@fruehchenschweiz.ch, 031 515 65 25