ADHF, Heineken Foundation Sign MoU to Tackle Neonatal Jaundice

IN line with the global trend to reduce the infant mortality rate in Nigeria as a result of jaundice, the Anu Dosekun Healthcare Foundation, ADHF, a not-for-profit organisation and the Heineken Africa Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to embark on a 12-month free screening pilot project dubbed "Jaundice in Babies Awareness Campaign" (JIBA) in the Lagos West area of Lagos State.

The free screening commences in December at Outreach Children's Hospital, FESTAC, Lagos, while the mobile clinic commences its free screenings in January 2012 at the Amuwo Odofin and Oriade Primary Health Centres. Under the JIBA Campaign, ADHF will provide free screening and treatment of jaundice to all babies born at home, private and public health institutions as well as by traditional birth attendants.

Initiator of the ADHF initiative, Dr Efunbo Dosekun, said the JIBA campaign is aimed at creating awareness about the dangers of jaundice. "The campaign aims to create and improve public awareness about the dangers of neonatal jaundice in babies," she stated, adding that ADHF believes that improved public awareness of jaundice would ensure early screening and detection of the illness in children. She said early detection will prevent the progression to severe Jaundice and thereby reduce disabilities and deaths.

According to her, the JIBA Campaign will also launch and promote the concept of the 3-Day Baby Check. "All babies within their first three days of birth should get a full check. This check is to promote the early detection and ultimately treatment of any Childhood illnesses and abnormalities if any."

Dosekun said: "There has not been any significant reduction in the neonatal mortality figures in Nigeria over the past 10 years. The current newborn statistics in Nigeria according to the United Nations states that around 1 in every 20 neonates dies.

This is in contrast to the under 5 mortality rate which has reduced by 1.2 percent every year in the past 10 years. Less than four years to 2015, we are still a long way from achieving the MDG 4 which states a reduction by two thirds the under 5 mortality rate..

Dosekun observed that conditions such as birth asphyxia, neonatal infection, prematurity and neonatal jaundice were top on the list. She said neonatal jaundice could present as s single entity or in combination with the other three killer conditions. skills, hearing and learning difficulties.

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