Kumasi: The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and child health stakeholders must implement effective and sustainable interventions to prevent and treat newborn jaundice as a means of reducing infant mortality, Dr. Abena Asante Krobea, a Medical Officer at KNUST Hospital, has suggested. She emphasized that strengthening awareness would largely prevent neonatal jaundice and ensure that no child suffers from its preventable complications.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Asante Krobea mentioned in an interview that newborn jaundice has become quite common among new babies. The month of May has been designated for awareness creation and prevention, under the theme 'From Awareness to Action: Promoting Timely Diagnosis and Treatment for all Jaundice Newborns across Ghana.' Neonatal jaundice is characterized by a yellow coloration of the body of newborns due to the accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin. It affects about 60 percent of full-term infants and 80 percent of pre-term newborns, with eleven million babies developing this condition globally.
Health facilities are focusing on early detection and appropriate management strategies, prioritizing education for mothers, adequate breastfeeding, and timely health monitoring of newborns. Dr. Asante Krobea noted that effective breastfeeding can prevent the yellow pigmentation associated with jaundice. She emphasized the importance of encouraging and supporting breastfeeding mothers to ensure they have adequate breast milk, as this is a proven way to ensure good health for babies.
Additionally, she highlighted the need for strengthening antenatal care, improving access to healthcare, and training more health professionals for effective maternal health care. The health and wellbeing of newborns must be a priority for families and stakeholders to prevent infant and maternal mortalities. Pregnant mothers are advised to prioritize attendance at antenatal clinics to help prevent complications in pregnancy and childbirth for both mother and baby.
