Ulaanbaatar
UNICEF Fundraising Gala Advances Newborn Screening in Mongolia
Society
Ulaanbaatar, September 16, 2025 /MONTSAME/. UNICEF Mongolia has taken a major step forward in strengthening the newborn screening system of Mongolia through a Fundraising Gala organized by the UNICEF Health Ambassador for Mongolia, Tselmuun Nyamtaishir, and her husband, the Member of the International Olympic Committee and President of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, Battushig Batbold, on September 12, 2025.
The Gala, held at the newly opened Ayan Zalaat Hotel & Resort, which is a MAK-owned property, Mongolia’s first property under the Leading Hotels of the World brand, raised a total of MNT 2.5 billion (approx. USD 740,000), surpassing the initial target of MNT 1.7 billion.
These funds will introduce Tandem Mass Spectrometry technology to Mongolia for the first time, ensuring the sustainable operation of an advanced newborn screening system. This cutting-edge device can detect 25–30 types of metabolic disorders at the earliest stages of a child’s life, when timely diagnosis and treatment can protect both health and survival.
Tselmuun Nyamtaishir, in her speech, expressed her gratitude for the support of her husband Battushig Batbold, for encouraging her from the very beginning to take on the role of UNICEF Ambassador and for standing by her for their shared dedication to children’s health, which stems from a deeply personal journey: their daughter was born very premature at just 23 weeks and 5 days. Since then, they have made continuous efforts to improve child health care in Mongolia through their Battushig Tselmuun Foundation, which has contributed to many initiatives benefiting newborns and children.
As part of the evening’s fundraising, Battushig Batbold contributed one of his personal items — a signed Cristiano Ronaldo jersey — which proved to be among the most popular items at the auction, symbolizing how sport and philanthropy can come together to create lasting impact.
UNICEF Mongolia recognized the leadership of Ambassador Tselmuun Nyamtaishir and Battushig Batbold, and thanked all guests, partners, corporations, artists, and individual donors whose support made this milestone possible. Together, their efforts will contribute to giving every newborn in Mongolia a healthier, brighter start in life.
