Published on May 17, 2022.

Cases of jaundice in newborn babies continue to rise in Ghana despite various campaigns to prevent such incidences.

Paediatricians at the Kwadaso S.D.A Hospital say lack of neonatal jaundice equipment is a hindrance in treating cases in the Ashanti region.

S.D.A Hospital has received support from the Redeeming Hands Foundation, an NGO, to boost their healthcare service delivery. 

The Foundation has donated a Firefly Phototherapy machine, worth GHC27,500 cedis for the treatment of neonatal jaundice.

According to President of Redeeming Hands Foundation, Wendy Boateng Oforiwaa, the machine will help reduce infant mortality in line with attaining the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of good health and wellbeing.

“I visited someone at the hospital and I realised they had some challenges at the neonatal unit,so I decided to put it on our platform to raise money to buy the machine. I believe this will help in fighting neonatal jaundice,” she said.

According to pediatricians at the Kwadaso S.D.A Hospital, resources available can only treat one baby at a time.

A neonatal nurse specialist, Juliet Yeboah, says the machine will help treat neonatal jaundice effectively.

 “Looking at the cases that we receive, the majority of these are neonatal jaundice cases and the resources “available at the moment can just handle one baby at a time, so we’re tempted to clinically judge.

“But we’re thankful to the NGO for the new equipment, because we know this is really going to help us manage our cases effectively,” she noted

The month of May has been declared by the Pediatric Society of Ghana as the “Yellow Month.”

The month is dedicated to intensifying the education on neonatal jaundice in new born babies.

“During the month of May, we create awareness and this increases the number of mothers who visit our hospital. We need more Firefly Phototherapy machines. We’re really grateful for this gesture,” she said.

Mothers have been urged to visit the nearest health facility for assessment immediately they realize their babies are unwell. 

Original Post: https://www.myjoyonline.com/neonatal-jaundice-high-despite-preventive-campaigns-redeeming-hands-foundation-supports-s-d-a-hospital/