SURINAME · HEALTH, FUNDRAISER
Key Facts
- The country Suriname, a Dutch-speaking country of about 600,000 people on the northern coast of South America. Its capital is Paramaribo.
- What happened The charity Su Aid launched its 2026 fundraiser on Friday 30 October 2026 at ‘s Lands Hospitaal in Paramaribo.
- The goal At least SRD 9.2 million (US$244,000) for equipment that the hospital says it cannot pay for itself.
- What it buys Incubators, patient monitors and breathing-support machines for newborns, plus gear for children’s care.
- The dates Donations run from Monday 2 November to Sunday 20 December 2026; the final total is expected by February 2027.
The Su Aid Suriname campaign for 2026 wants to raise at least SRD 9.2 million (US$244,000) for sick and premature babies and children. The money is meant for medical equipment at ‘s Lands Hospitaal, a mother-and-child hospital in Paramaribo, the capital.
Su Aid, a Suriname foundation that holds a public fundraiser every year, launched the drive at the hospital on Friday 30 October 2026. Donations are collected from Monday 2 November to Sunday 20 December.
What Su Aid Suriname Is Asking For
Chairman Giwani Zeggen set the goal at a minimum of US$244,000, a little over SRD 9 million (US$239,000) at about SRD 37.7 per US dollar. Su Aid Suriname says the target matches the equipment list the hospital submitted, so every item on it can be bought.
The drive carries the motto Every Child Deserves a Chance, and it is the foundation’s twelfth annual campaign. Zeggen said the hospital was chosen because the money goes to babies and children, adding that whoever has the youth has the future.
A target is not a guarantee, and Zeggen said so himself. In 2024 Su Aid Suriname aimed for SRD 10 million (US$265,000) for the national blood bank and raised SRD 4.92 million (US$131,000).
What the Money Would Buy
Most of the money is meant for the hospital’s Neonatal High Care Unit, a specialist ward for newborns who need intensive support. The list includes extra incubators, patient monitors and CPAP machines, which help babies who struggle to breathe alone.
The hospital also wants a Pediatric High Care Unit on its children’s ward, for children admitted with illnesses such as lung infections. The children’s outpatient clinic and a newly opened children’s centre, which helps children who have suffered abuse, are also on the request.
The figures given at the launch put about US$187,000 on the newborn unit and US$56,000 on the children’s outpatient clinic. Together that is US$243,000, or US$1,000 below the stated minimum goal.
The equipment will be bought from local suppliers that already work with the hospital. They will also install and repair it and train the nurses, and delivery takes about six weeks after purchase.
How the Campaign Will Run
Su Aid Suriname asks companies, organizations and private donors to give, and it receives many requests for help each year. Zeggen said nearly every one could be honored, because the need is high everywhere.
Live radio programs start on Monday 2 November and run for two weeks from the hospital’s High Care Unit. Festive broadcasts follow in December, a change from earlier years when the foundation broadcast mainly in December.
Zeggen argues the goal is within reach for a country of about 600,000 people. An average gift of SRD 10 (US$0.27) would raise SRD 6 million (US$159,000), and SRD 20 (US$0.53) each would pass the target.
The final total should be known in late January or mid-February 2027, once all pledged donations have been paid in. Zeggen said administrative steps can take time.
Why the Hospital Needs Help
The hospital opened its Neonatal High Care Unit in August 2024 with four beds, next to its existing incubator ward. Demand was so high that the unit grew to nine beds, but pediatrician Laurindo Kloof said the equipment did not grow in step.
The medical director, Soenita Nannan Panday-Gopisingh, said the hospital’s money goes mostly to daily running costs. A purchase of SRD 9 million (US$239,000) is a huge investment it cannot pay from its own budget, she said.
The hospital also has too few spare devices, so a broken machine can leave a ward without a replacement. A shortage of nurses, caused by staff leaving the country, adds to the strain, and the hospital is working to keep and train its people.
Generators cover power cuts, the medical director said, so blackouts are not the main worry. The larger worry is the lack of backup devices, because other care providers also have limited equipment and cannot always step in.
What It Means for You
Suriname is a small country, and its main mother-and-child hospital says it cannot buy this equipment from its own budget. That is why a charity drive, backed by radio airtime and public giving, is paying for newborn care.
Anyone who wants to give should use only channels that Su Aid Suriname itself publishes, as no bank account or payment link is public yet. For background, read our explainer on Su Aid and ‘s Lands Hospitaal and our guide to Suriname in South America.
What Is Not Known
No bank account, payment link or drop-off point has been made public so far. The hospital’s full equipment list with unit prices has not been published either.
The split between wards is not final, since the amounts given at the launch differ by US$1,000 from the minimum goal. The 2026 total will not be known before late January or mid-February 2027.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Su Aid raising money for in 2026?
Su Aid Suriname wants to buy medical equipment for newborns and children at ‘s Lands Hospitaal in Paramaribo. The list includes incubators, patient monitors and CPAP breathing-support machines.
How much does Su Aid want to raise?
The goal is at least US$244,000, a little over SRD 9 million (US$239,000) at about SRD 37.7 per US dollar. The campaign runs from Monday 2 November to Sunday 20 December 2026.
Who is Su Aid Suriname?
Su Aid Suriname holds a public fundraiser every year, and 2026 is its twelfth campaign. Its 2024 drive raised SRD 4.92 million (US$131,000) for the national blood bank.
How can I donate to the Su Aid campaign?
No bank account or payment link has been announced so far. Wait for details from Su Aid Suriname itself, and be careful with anyone who asks for money in its name.
Sources: Su Aid and ‘s Lands Hospitaal, campaign launch statements by chairman Giwani Zeggen, medical director Soenita Nannan Panday-Gopisingh and pediatrician Laurindo Kloof, Paramaribo, 31 October 2026; Su Aid campaign launch, equipment list and budget, ‘s Lands Hospitaal, 31 October 2026; Su Aid campaign launch, delivery, suppliers and timeline, 31 October 2026; Su Aid 2024 campaign result for the national blood bank of the Suriname Red Cross, February 2025.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief