Every newborn deserves a safe beginning: Help build the future of Israel through Soroka's new Neonatal Care Center
- IMFoC
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
Every child deserves the chance to take their very first breath in safety.
For most families, the birth of a baby is a moment filled with hope, joy, and dreams for the future. But for thousands of parents in southern Israel, those precious first moments can quickly become a fight for survival.
Each year, more than 17,000 babies are born at Soroka Medical Center, making it the busiest maternity hospital in Israel. More than 15% of these newborns require specialized neonatal care because they are born prematurely, critically ill, or with life-threatening medical conditions. Thousands of vulnerable infants depend on Soroka's Neonatal Department every year to survive and thrive.
As the only major medical center serving more than one million residents across Israel's Negev region, Soroka carries an extraordinary responsibility. It provides advanced medical care to communities across 60% of Israel's land area and serves as the region's primary trauma center during times of conflict.
A neonatal unit built for another era
Soroka's current Neonatal Department was built in the 1980s. While its physicians, nurses, and specialists provide world-class care, the facility itself no longer meets today's medical or security needs.
The existing unit has become too small for the growing number of newborns requiring intensive care. Every year, babies must be transferred to hospitals hundreds of kilometres away simply because there are not enough beds available. For fragile premature infants who may spend weeks or even months in intensive care, these transfers create enormous stress for both the babies and their families.
Even more concerning is the reality of the region's security situation.
Located in southern Israel, Soroka has repeatedly faced missile attacks. During periods of heightened conflict, medical teams have been forced to evacuate premature babies from the neonatal unit into protected areas—an extremely dangerous process for infants whose lives depend on uninterrupted intensive care.
No newborn should have to begin life surrounded by such uncertainty.
A new beginning for thousands of babies
To address these urgent challenges, Soroka Medical Center is building a new fortified Neonatal Care Center designed specifically to protect Israel's smallest and most vulnerable patients.
The new four-storey facility will include approximately 5,730 square metres of modern clinical space and will be fully protected against missile attacks in accordance with the standards established by the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command.
The expansion will transform neonatal care by:
Increasing capacity from 64 to 88 neonatal beds.
Providing dedicated Neonatal Intensive Care and Intermediate Care units.
Creating private family-centred treatment rooms where parents can remain close to their babies.
Expanding specialized isolation rooms and clinical support facilities.
Supporting education and training for more than 150 healthcare professionals each year.
Equipping the center with advanced neonatal technologies that improve outcomes for critically ill newborns.
This new center is much more than a building. It represents a commitment that every baby born in southern Israel deserves access to the highest standard of medical care—regardless of the circumstances.
Technology that saves lives every day
Buildings alone do not save lives.
Highly trained physicians and nurses depend on specialized medical equipment to diagnose, stabilize, monitor, and treat critically ill newborns during the most fragile days of life. As IMFoC works to strengthen neonatal healthcare in Israel, one of our current priorities is to help equip Soroka's new Neonatal Care Center with the advanced medical technology needed to care for these vulnerable infants.
The equipment identified for this initiative includes life-saving neonatal systems such as:
Open incubators and neonatal resuscitation stations for emergency stabilization immediately after birth.
Advanced incubators that recreate the womb-like environment for premature infants.
Portable ultrasound systems that allow physicians to diagnose critically ill newborns at the bedside without moving fragile patients.
Cardiorespiratory monitors that continuously monitor heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, and other vital signs.
Cerebral Function Monitors (CFMs) that provide continuous neurological monitoring, helping clinicians identify brain abnormalities early and begin treatment as quickly as possible.
Each of these technologies plays a vital role in improving survival rates, reducing complications, and giving newborns the strongest possible start in life.
When every second matters, having the right equipment at the right bedside can mean the difference between life and death.
Your generosity can change a child's future
Behind every incubator is a family waiting for hope.
Behind every monitor is a newborn fighting to survive.
Behind every successful treatment is a community strengthened because another child has been given the opportunity to grow, learn, and contribute to the future of Israel.
At IMFoC, we are committed to strengthening life-saving healthcare initiatives by working alongside trusted medical partners to expand access to advanced neonatal care where it is needed most.
Today, we invite you to become part of that mission.
Your support will help IMFoC provide essential medical equipment for Soroka's new Neonatal Care Center, ensuring that physicians and nurses have the tools they need to care for thousands of vulnerable newborns for years to come.
Together, we can help create a safer beginning for Israel's most fragile babies.
Because every child deserves the chance to grow up.
Because every family deserves hope.
And because the future of Israel begins with the children we save today.
