Throughout the year we could witness your commitment in raising awareness for the needs of preterm babies and their parents, in addressing issues and hence, in improving newborn care. This really is a driving force to us. Now, at the end of an eventful and truly remarkable year, we are looking back on what we achieved for children born too soon and their families. This was made possible thanks to your support. Let us recall and celebrate some of these moments:

With EFCNI turning ten this year, 2018 was dedicated to our anniversary. However, not only EFCNI turned ten, World Prematurity Day on 17 November was also founded ten years ago and it was an incredible joy to see the Olympic tower of Munich, illuminated for the first time, in purple on that occasion. As in the previous year, World Prematurity Day was celebrated along a global motto with our global advocacy group; this year’s claim was: “Working together”.

Moreover, a Strong Start for Little Heroes went into its third year, with a record-breaking number of participants. EFCNI has also launched the EFCNI Academy with two successful workshops on the setup and organisation of milk banks. Correspondingly, we published a new brochure on breastmilk for preterm babies and ran a very effective international World Breastfeeding Week campaign. Additionally, new factsheets on Why the first 1000 days of life matter and parenteral nutrition were published. We are delighted to offer some of our factsheets now in up to 7 languages. Last but not least, the highlights in our calendar were for sure the launch of the European Standards of Care for Newborn Health at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union and in the European Parliament in Brussels this November as well as our own scientific symposium on neonatal care on the occasion of our anniversary.

Supported by our ever-growing and powerful network, the past ten years have shown: Together we can achieve so much to shape the future of ill and preterm born children. We hence want to express our sincere thanks for your trust and support in 2018 and cannot wait to continue this journey with you in 2019. To help us realise further projects, we gratefully welcome your donation.

We wish you a happy Holiday Season and a peaceful and healthy New Year!