The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Reckitt, Newborn Essential Solutions and Technology (NEST360), and Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) have joined forces to train healthcare workers in Lagos to combat neonatal jaundice.
Through the Neonatal Jaundice Screening, Treatment, and Kernicterus Prevention Programme, “Project Oscar: Light for Life,” launched in December 2024, the initiative aims to screen over 9,000 newborns and educate 10,000 mothers within 18 months.
This first batch of training will be followed by a second batch and step-down training led by those already trained, conducted exclusively at the NEST360 and SCIDaR training centres.
The project, funded by Reckitt as part of its commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health, reflects a shared vision for early intervention and disability prevention. Inspired by Oscar Anderson, a disability advocate, the project emphasises the critical importance of early screening and treatment to prevent lifelong disabilities caused by neonatal jaundice.
Led by WBFA’s training partners, NEST360 and SCIDaR, the week-long sessions targeted tertiary, secondary, and primary healthcare workers, offering hands-on practical learning to strengthen their capacity.
Speaking on behalf of SCIDaR, one of the implementing partners, Dr Daniel Adeniyi, underscored the programme’s significance.
“Our goal with Project Oscar is to ensure that no baby suffers from kernicterus. By training healthcare workers to recognise and treat jaundice promptly, we aim to prevent permanent brain damage,” he said.
The course director, Dr Olatunji Tolulope, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the training saying, “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.”
She also pointed out 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, emphasised that early recognition and timely intervention are crucial in preventing brain damage from jaundice.
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