Three NGOs unite to tackle jaundice, disabilities in newborns

Concerned by the rising cases of jaundice and permanent disabilities among newly born babies in the country, three non-governmental organisations have teamed up to fund a campaign against the worrisome, dreaded disease.

They have started training healthcare workers in Lagos to combat neonatal jaundice.

According to Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Reckitt, Newborn Essential Solutions and Technology (NEST360), and Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR), the initiative would screen over 9,000 newborns and educate 10,000 mothers within 18 months.

The project is part of Reckitt’s commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health to reflect a shared vision for early intervention and disability prevention.

A statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State, quoted a disability advocate, Oscar Anderson, as saying that “the project emphasizes the critical importance of early screening and treatment to prevent lifelong disabilities caused by neonatal jaundice.”

The organisers hinted that the week-long sessions targeted tertiary, secondary, and primary healthcare workers, offering hands-on practical learning to strengthen their capacity.

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The statement added that NEST360 trained 24 healthcare workers in tertiary and secondary hospitals through the “Neonatal Management and Comprehensive Newborn Care Training,” while SCIDaR trained 34 workers in primary healthcare centres, enhancing early recognition and treatment of neonatal jaundice.

Speaking on behalf of SCIDaR, an implementing partner, Dr. Daniel Adeniyi underscored the program’s significance: “Our goal with Project Oscar is to ensure no baby suffers from kernicterus. By training healthcare workers to recognise and treat jaundice promptly, we aim to prevent permanent brain damage.”

The course director, Dr. Olatunji Tolulope, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the training: “This course is all-encompassing. Today, we focused on the ‘Helping Babies Breathe’ module, along with training on neonatal jaundice as part of Project Oscar. It is vital because only babies who survive are at risk of developing jaundice. Ensuring babies are born and breathing is the essence of this training.”

He stated the value of practical learning: “Theory is different from practice. Hands-on experience, including working with mannequins, ensures that skills stick and are easier to apply in real-life situations.”

At one of the training centres in Ikeja, Neonatologist and Associate Professor of Paediatrics at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Iretiola Fajolu, explained that the course covers various aspects, from preparing for birth, assisting the baby in breathing, initiating early breastfeeding, and preventing infections to identifying and treating jaundice using appropriate equipment.

Also speaking is the Country Director for NEST360, Dr. Opeyemi Odedere, who expressed excitement at collaborating with partners like WBFA, highlighting the importance of partnerships and the unique advantages each partner brings. Mr. Williams Awotunde, WBFA’s Director of Programmes, explained the broader vision behind the initiative: “We have teamed up with Reckitt to reduce the incidence and complications of neonatal jaundice in Nigeria, starting with Lagos State. Strengthening the capacity of frontline healthcare workers is essential to improving maternal, child, and neonatal health outcomes.”