New maternity facilities in Belgrade reflect longstanding partnership in health

At Narodni Front maternity clinic in Belgrade, Serbia, the opening of a new delivery room last week marked an expansion of access to essential care for mothers and their newborn babies. It also marked a milestone in the nearly two-decade collaboration between the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), which supported the renovation and outfitting of the facilities, and the Princess Katherine Foundation, also known as Lifeline, to strengthen health care in Serbia.

“We have had the pleasure of partnering with the Princess Katherine Foundation through its US arm, Lifeline, for nearly two decades, and have seen firsthand the steadfast dedication, tireless commitment to mission, and clear vision they bring to their work,” said SNF Senior Program Officer Roula Siklas at the inauguration of the new room. “They see an opportunity to expand access to quality care, with a special focus on women’s health, and they follow through to make it happen—and make sure it keeps happening, year after year.”

“I am very grateful to our dear friends from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, who recognized the needs of the people of Serbia and decided to follow our vision of helping our country wholeheartedly,” said Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine. “Today, we have together made a huge difference in the lives of others, and before all, in the lives of the little angels who are just coming to this world.”

SNF and Lifeline have collaborated on half a dozen projects in Serbia, including procuring a digital mammography system in 2008 so that Lifeline’s mobile mammography unit could provide breast cancer screening for women throughout the country, particularly in remote areas. This mobile mammography unit, which has screened nearly 200,000 women so far, is still on the road helping women catch breast cancer early.

Improving access to quality health care around the world through our ongoing Global Health Initiative (GHI) is a central focus for SNF.