Every step of this process is guided by scientific precision and professional diligence, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said.

According to the Ministry, nine more babies are on the way during the current year.

Supported by the state budget, Albania’s public IVF program is applied at the “Koço Gliozheni” Maternity Hospital in Tirana.

The laboratory is optimized for maximal embryonic potential, said one doctor.

According to the Ministry of Health, all the 22 babies born in this first public center for assisted medical reproduction have been healthy. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

According to the report of the Media and Information Agency, this birth was achieved through state-funded IVF at the Center for Assisted Medical Reproduction.

So far, the IVF program has celebrated 21 births, helping families grow.

Supported by the state budget, Albania’s public IVF program at the “Koço Gliozheni” Maternity Hospital makes reproductive technology accessible, easing the financial burden on couples facing infertility. /m.q/a.f/p.s./

Health and Social Protection Minister Albana Koçiu announced Tuesday the birth of two more babies through the national IVF program, highlighting the growing success of the initiative.

“Two newborns at the ‘Koço Gliozheni’ maternity hospital. Dua and Merton were born thanks to the national program for infertility treatment, which is making the dreams of many families come true,” Koçiu said.

The country’s first IVF-assisted birth at a public hospital took place at “Koço Gliozheni” on December 17, 2024.

The state-funded fertility package aims to support young couples by providing free access to IVF treatment. Under the current budget, around 150 couples are receiving assistance this year to fulfill their dream of starting a family.

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Ares and Rajd were the twins, the first babies who were born healthy at the “Queen Geraldine” Maternity Hospital as soon as the clock struck midnight. In the same maternity hospital, after midnight, 6 more babies were born who are in perfect health.

Minister Koçiu visited in the beginning the children born at the “Queen Geraldine” Maternity Hospital, giving them their baby bonus.

Koçiu also visited the children born at the “Koço Gliozheni” Maternity Hospital, where 2 babies were born on New Year’s Eve.

The minister thanked the staff of doctors and nurses who were on duty in service of mothers and children on New Year’s Eve and in the first days of the New Year.

Since 2019, the government and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection continue to support the baby bonus program. About 227 thousand families who have given birth to their children have benefited the bonus.

From January 1 to November 2024, 24,061 newborn babies have benefited the baby bonus. The baby bonus is only available to families living and contributing in Albania, supporting with 40,000 lekë for the birth of the first baby; 80,000 lekë for the second child, and 120,000 lekë for the birth of the third baby.

Even in the 2025 budget, there has been allocated a fund of 2.2 billion lekë for the Baby Bonus Program, supporting families from their first steps. /p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama gave the news while expressing his congratulations in the social media: “Welcome Ares and Rajd! May you have long life and may they put their best foot forward!”

Rama said that these are the twins of 2025 who joined us healthy. They are the heralds of a year of blessings, at the “Queen Geraldine” maternity hospital, when the clock struck midnight. /p.s./

Minister of Health and Social Protection Albana Koçiu visited today the newborns at the “Queen Geraldine” and “Koço Gliozheni” maternity hospitals.

At the “Koço Gliozheni” maternity hospital, Minister Koçiu wished for a happy and prosperous year for all Albanians and gave the baby’s bonus for Sihana, the girl who was born 1 minute after midnight.

During this visit, Minister Koçiu thanked and expressed her gratitude to all the medical staff who were on duty at the service of mothers and children on New Year’s Eve and the first days of the New Year.

Koçiu emphasized that the government and the Ministry of Education and Culture will continue to pursue the child support programs, such as the baby bonus for all children born in Albania.

Also, Minister Koçiu gave the baby bonus for Amari, who was born a few minutes after midnight at the “Queen Geraldine” Maternity Hospital.

Since 2019, when the baby bonus program was launched, more than 190,000 children have benefited.

“We will continue to support families and newborns in our country”, underlined Minister Koçiu. /p.s./

“Marathon of babies in Pogradec. In Pogradec, a special marathon with babies aged 4-15 months, in the framework of the international marathon “Marathon Enkelana” with about 500 participants from 25 countries of the world already registered as part of this marathon, turning this city into a host of a major sports event: 21 km, Lin-Pogradec and 10 km, Pogradec-Buçimas-Pogradec”, wrote Rama.

Yesterday, there took place the marathon of babies 6 to 15 months old, an activity that brought a joyful atmosphere to the city on the shore of the lake, which in these summer months is full of local and foreign visitors.

With a track length of 4 meters, there were not a few babies who crossed it under the encouraging calls of parents and curious people who had filled the central square of the city, at the Odeon. The organization of the municipality of Pogradec and Marathon Enkelana was successful in terms of participation and atmosphere, offering a happy atmosphere for everyone. The municipality of Pogradec has also planned a calendar of activities for the summer season as one more offer during the tourist season that is added to the lake, fresh air and incomparable landscapes of the surroundings.

Sports Master Pavlina Evro also distributed certificates to the participating babies who were all winners. The baby marathon was held in the framework of the 2nd edition of Marathon Enkelana. /p.s./

“Through the magic of the birth of life, I would like to wish you all a beautiful Christmas Day,” PM Rama said via a video on the social media.

Catholic and orthodox believers around the world celebrate Christmas on Sunday.

Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus on 25 December.

In Albania, Christmas celebration started after the fall of the Communist regime in the ‘90s and is one of the most popular festivals and celebrated with great merriment, with all Albania’s religious communities celebrating the occasion with almost equal fervour.

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Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu shared today exciting moments for young mothers holding their children in their arms who succeeded to survive after many difficult days, thanks to the professionalism and dedication of Dr. Spiro Damo and all the intensive therapy staff at the “Queen Geraldine” Maternity Hospital.

Dr. Damo said that, “We have currently premature babies less than 28 weeks, there are two babies weighing 900 grams and another one weighing 1,000 grams”.

“The three cases that we have faced and saved the lives of the babies are a success story for me. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the mothers, the parents, who have been a support for us to do the work at the highest levels”, he said.

One of the new mothers was very happy about the baby’s recovery, thanks to the dedicated work of the doctors.

Likewise, another mother appreciated the great dedication and support of the hospital staff. /m.m/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the figure today morning saying that the children have benefited from the baby bonus through the universal support program for every newborn.

Rama stressed that the government supports with 40,000 ALL for the first child, 80,000 ALL for the second child and 120,000 ALL for the third child.

“Good morning and with the good news that over 128,392 children have benefited from the baby bonus, with the universal support program for every newborn, I wish you a good weekend”, Rama emphasized.

The baby bonus is a new social policy that the government has pursued since January 1, 2019 and supports young families, regardless of socio-economic status.

All children registered in Albania benefit the bonus regardless of whether they were born here or abroad.

Parents of the newborn children withdraw the baby’s check at the maternity hospital where they perform the immediate registration of the child, avoiding all the delays and bureaucracies that have occurred before./gj.m/p.s./