For us the most important thing was to find a reliable and financially transparent partner, as Margus Saar, the host of “Jõulutunnel”, told “Terevision”. According to Saare, together with viewers, they want to help Estonian maternity hospitals acquire much-needed incubators and resuscitation tables.
“A vivid memory related to the show “Christmas Tunnel” was when Estonia was still doing very well and pruning shears had not yet reached homes,” recalled Margus Saar, one of the show’s longest-serving hosts. “That year we were responsible for purchasing a walking robot for the Haapsalu Neurological Rehabilitation Center, which spoke to many people. Guys who jump into the water drunk and injure their necks or spines, our soldiers who serve on a mission, and indeed, something can happen to any of us, so much so that we have to use a walking robot to restore our health.”
“The second memory was from one of the most successful years, when our topic was women’s shelters,” Saar recalled. “Now we talk about it more, but at that time the topic was still very new and challenging for the Christmas holidays.”
According to Saare, the partner this year is SA Sünnitusmajade Fond, which was previously Pelgulinna Sünnitusmaja Toetusfond. “The foundation has brought together all 12 places where you can give birth in Estonia,” Saar said. “There are high-ranking hospitals and provincial hospitals. The foundation ensures that everywhere in Estonia a good birth of a child is guaranteed.”
Donations are being collected for resuscitation tables and shelters. “With any child it can happen that the birth does not go well and therefore a resuscitation table is urgently needed. In most cases, children born prematurely, but sometimes also children born prematurely who were traumatized at birth, are placed in the intensive care unit.”
Saar also explained the principles of the selection, why it was decided to collect donations specifically for the Maternity Hospital Fund. “We thought, first of all, that the birth rate in Estonia is low and every child is very important, and we would like people to arrive here as healthy as possible. Secondly, we wanted to find a solid partner, or a fund, in three to ten years it will still exist. Perhaps the most important thing for us is a reliable partner and transparent management of the fund.”
“Once upon a time, in the early 2000s, with the help of viewers, we got a belt for a children’s hospital, and I am always fond of the memory when five years later we accidentally ended up at the children’s hospital in Tallinn and saw belts with the writing “In support of the Christmas Tunnel. The belts were still in use and we realized that there is a real need for them,” Saar said.
“The price of one device is 30,000-50,000 euros, and depending on how much money is collected, it is distributed among maternity hospitals. Doctors decide in which order maternity hospitals across Estonia will receive the devices There is also adequate training, because the devices are really complicated.”
“There is a beautiful saying that says don’t donate for others, but for yourself. It feels good when you can help someone who needs help,” Saar encouraged all good people to donate.
The “Christmas Tunnel” donation lines have been open since 18 December.
2023-12-18 11:25:00
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