Neonatal Jaundice is a condition that causes yellowing of the eyes and skin of new-born babies which often caused them to die or suffer permanent disability.
But in the Upper East Region, many parents especially mothers still lack the knowledge of neonatal jaundice at the early stages in new-born babies.
The situation is making health officials in the region worried over the increased in number of jaundice cases amongst new-born babies.
Report shows that in 2020, the Talensi District hospital alone recorded 61 new-born babies with neonatal jaundice, and out of which two died due to late reports from the parents.
In view of this report, the Talensi District Hospital with support from the Ghana Health Service has organized a sensitization derive through drama to educate rural people on neonatal jaundice.
In an exclusive interview with A1 Radio, a nurse in charge of the neonatal unit in the Talensi District Hospital of the Upper East Region, Stephen Tindaana Abane noted that the condition amongst new-born babies was growing at an increased rate and needs rapid attention by all and sundry.
He said “We are doing this basically for three reasons; the alarming statistics, the lack of knowledge on the part of parents, and the perceptions of condition on new-born babies. From 2016 to 2020 it has been in an increase; in 2020 alone reports have it that over 10,000 new-born babies had the condition. In the Talensi District hospital also in 2019, 25 babies had the condition and increased to 61 new-born babies in 2020 which two suddenly lost their lives. And I would say these figures are under-reported because many parents sometimes do not report their children’s conditions to the hospitals.”
Mr. Tindaana, also called benevolent organizations to partner with various health facilities to do more education on parents especially mothers in the rural areas as majority of them still lack the knowledge of neonatal jaundice and often link new-born babies with such condition to spirit children.
As part of activities marking the World Neonatal Jaundice month, staff of the facility however used the month to create awareness through organizing drama events for women and men in the rural areas in the district.
The Chairperson of the event, Queen Mother of the Talensi Traditional Area, Stephanie Akapame, used the occasion to call on stakeholders in health as well benevolent organizations to see neonatal jaundice as a national problem that needs national attention.
She also cautioned parents especially men to always be at the doorstep of their wives to render support when cases of such nature cropped up in the family.
Meanwhile, data from the Ghana Health Service indicated that since 2015 there have been increased cases of neonatal jaundice amongst newborn babies.
The data shows that in 2015, 3,031 babies recorded, 4,251 in 2016, 5,338 in 2017, in 2018, 7,175, 9,273 in 2019 and in 2020 over 10,000 cases recorded in the country.
Source: A1radioonline.com| 101.1 MHz| Moses Apiah| Ghana
