Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare (centre), the Presidential Advisor on Health, and Dr Lawrence Tetteh (left), Founder, Worldwide Miracle Outreach, launching the jaundice management firefly phototherapy equipment. At the extreme right is Dr Isabella Sagoe-Moses, acting Director, Family Health Division, Ghana Health Service. Picture: BENEDICT OBUOBI
Newborn jaundice, one of the causes of disability, especially, cerebral palsy in children, is the yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes in the first 28 days of life.
Get Digital Versions of Graphic Publications by downloading Graphic NewsPlus Here. Also available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store
The data said in 2018, the country recorded 7,175; 5,338 in 2017; 4,251 in 2016 and 3,031 in 2015.
In a presentation at a national neonatal jaundice conference in Accra yesterday, the acting Director of the Family Health Division of the GHS, Dr Isabella Sagoe-Moses, expressed worry over the fact that most of these children died or suffered permanent disability due to late detection and treatment.
She said although prevention was not always possible, early detection and treatment were critical to saving newborn babies from death and the dire permanent consequences of jaundice such as cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
She attributed the high neonatal jaundice cases to negative socio-cultural practices and beliefs such as exposing the babies to the early morning sun and spilling breastmilk on the eye when symptoms begin to show rather than seeking immediate health care in an approved facility.
She also attributed the rise in the prevalence to inadequate infrastructure, health knowledge and skill.
The forum
The forum was organised by Africa Health Supplies in partnership with the Paediatrics Society of Ghana, the Ghana Health Service, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Presidential Advisor on Health.
It was aimed at brainstorming how to raise public awareness of neonatal jaundice and improve care for affected children.
It was held on the theme: Reducing infant mortality through neonatal jaundice awareness.
The occasion was also used to launch a facility for assembling medical suppliers for the treatment of neonatal jaundice, such as phototherapy equipment and infant beds to aid photo therapies, respiratory supporters and warming systems.
Dr Sagoe-Moses said the other reason for the prevalence was the inability of some health professionals to diagnose neonatal jaundice.
Antenatal education
The Vice-President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Frank Sereboe, underscored the need for antenatal health education to prioritise neonatal jaundice to facilitate early detection outside the health facilities.
A global evangelist and chairperson for the forum, Dr Lawrence Tetteh, also underscored the need to simplify health promotion in terms of language for the understanding of the ordinary person in order to make the maximum impact.
Neonatal jaundice
Dr Hilda Mantebea Boye, who is a paediatrician and secretary for the Greater Accra Branch of the Paediatric Society of Ghana, said the disease could also cause learning disability, epilepsy, visual impairment, hearing impairment and death and was not discriminatory as babies born to any person could develop jaundice after delivery.
On what caused neonatal jaundice, she mentioned that infections during pregnancy; blood group differences between mother and baby, G6PD deficiency and camphor use, biliary atresia and galactosemia as some of the causes.
Dehydration from poor feeding, abnormal blood cells, bruising at birth, liver disease among others, she added, were some of the other causes of jaundice in babies.
Dr Boye urged mothers to observe their babies stool for clay or chalk-like appearance, in addition to weakness, poor feeding, fever and abnormal crying.
She cautioned against the use of herbal medicine to treat neonatal jaundice, saying that there are a few people who try herbal medications and end up causing brain damage to the baby or even death.
She also discouraged the practice of hiding babies indoors for the first week, as that might prevent mothers from noticing the jaundice in poorly lit rooms.
Writers email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Continued here:
Newborn jaundice prevalence on the increase for five years - recorded 9273 cases in 2019 - Graphic Online
- Cerebral Palsy: Diagnosis - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy treatment NeuWellness - May 14th, 2011 [May 14th, 2011]
- cerebral palsy treatment in india-indian cerebral palsy video 1 - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- CP Cerebral Palsy Acupuncture Treatment Research. www.thetole.org - May 24th, 2011 [May 24th, 2011]
- cerebral palsy treatment in india/dr vipul shah/ indian cerebral palsy - June 9th, 2011 [June 9th, 2011]
- cerebral palsy treatment in india/indian cerebral palsy/dr vipul shah/follow up - June 23rd, 2011 [June 23rd, 2011]
- TheraSuit treatment for Cerebral Palsy - July 3rd, 2011 [July 3rd, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment for Cerebral Palsy-Jerica Cole's post interview.avi - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy Treatment.... Hindi - August 19th, 2011 [August 19th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Cerebral Palsy (Periventricular Leukomalacia) - August 21st, 2011 [August 21st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Cerebral Palsy at the XCell-Center in Germany - August 25th, 2011 [August 25th, 2011]
- cerebral palsy treatment,lilou,essentis,therasuit,banana,spider,nazarov,guez - August 29th, 2011 [August 29th, 2011]
- cerebral palsy treatment,helena,essentis,therasuit,guez,spider,nazarov,guez - September 30th, 2011 [September 30th, 2011]
- walking before training lokomat for cerebral palsy treatment - September 30th, 2011 [September 30th, 2011]
- TheraSuit Therapy for Cerebral Palsy - Case 1 - October 2nd, 2011 [October 2nd, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Atillia before stem cell treatment 2.wmv - October 10th, 2011 [October 10th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment for Cerebral Palsy-Jerica Cole's pre interview.avi - October 11th, 2011 [October 11th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Cerebral Palsy (2) - Video - October 16th, 2011 [October 16th, 2011]
- magic treatment for cerebral palsy -indian cerebral palsy treatment in india/delhi - Video - October 18th, 2011 [October 18th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Atillia after stem cell treatment 1.wmv - Video - October 19th, 2011 [October 19th, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy: A new treatment: Part 1 - Video - October 21st, 2011 [October 21st, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy Hyperbaric treatment in Margate Florida 954-975-3563 - Video - October 22nd, 2011 [October 22nd, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Gabor after stem cell treatment 3.1.wmv - Video - October 29th, 2011 [October 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Cerebral Palsy - Video - October 30th, 2011 [October 30th, 2011]
- Brian's Story: Dr. Huo's miraculous acupuncture treatment of Cerebral Palsy - Video - October 30th, 2011 [October 30th, 2011]
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment for Cerebral Palsy - Video - November 1st, 2011 [November 1st, 2011]
- After Stem Cell Transplant treatment for Cerebral Palsy - Video - November 2nd, 2011 [November 2nd, 2011]
- indian cerebral palsy treatment-dr vipul shah - Video - November 6th, 2011 [November 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Cerebral Palsy - Video - November 10th, 2011 [November 10th, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy(CP) Scientific Treatment Research Center - Video - November 10th, 2011 [November 10th, 2011]
- Cerebral Palsy Treatment - November 17th, 2011 [November 17th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: Treatment for Cerebral Palsy - Video - December 10th, 2011 [December 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy - Cerebral Palsy Treatment || Holly Catalano Update - Video - December 29th, 2011 [December 29th, 2011]
- Lasertherapy Bular - Treatment of Infantile Cerebral Palsy - Video - January 4th, 2012 [January 4th, 2012]
- Cerebral palsy patient Bianca after stem cell treatment 3.wmv - Video - January 4th, 2012 [January 4th, 2012]
- Cerebral Palsy Treatment by Dr.Babu Sudheendra Nath - Video - January 31st, 2012 [January 31st, 2012]
- The Methodist Hospital in Houston Is First to Offer New Device to Improve Walking - February 1st, 2012 [February 1st, 2012]
- Baby Logan inspires family to help - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Santi KM Bhagat: The 8 Million That Health Care Reform Forgot - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Ben's Bells: Patient grateful for Brownies' efforts - February 19th, 2012 [February 19th, 2012]
- Family’s appeal to improve care for disabled Jack, 3 - February 20th, 2012 [February 20th, 2012]
- Families, hospitals fighting Medicaid cuts - February 20th, 2012 [February 20th, 2012]
- Barrow family’s appeal to improve care for disabled Jack, 3 - February 20th, 2012 [February 20th, 2012]
- Earnings Beat for Acorda - February 21st, 2012 [February 21st, 2012]
- Dance to support Shriners Hospital for Children - February 25th, 2012 [February 25th, 2012]
- US trip holds hope for city boy - February 28th, 2012 [February 28th, 2012]
- Santanu Mitra - February 28th, 2012 [February 28th, 2012]
- City hospital to offer walking op - February 28th, 2012 [February 28th, 2012]
- CBR's Newborn Possibilities Program Provides Cord Blood Banking at No Cost to Families with an Identified Medical Need - February 29th, 2012 [February 29th, 2012]
- Charity golfers to the fore - February 29th, 2012 [February 29th, 2012]
- Assistive Mobility Devices Designed by Mobility Research Now Offered by Rehabmart.com - March 2nd, 2012 [March 2nd, 2012]
- Help to give Aiden, 2, chance of better life - March 4th, 2012 [March 4th, 2012]
- Conman Neil Jackson jailed for six years after false sickness claims for son - March 4th, 2012 [March 4th, 2012]
- Tesco manager conned £60k out of staff for son's 'fatal illness' and spent it on holidays - March 6th, 2012 [March 6th, 2012]
- Tesco manager conned £60,000 out of staff for son¿s ¿fatal illness¿ and spent the money on holidays to Hawaii and Las ... - March 6th, 2012 [March 6th, 2012]
- Ontario At The Centre Of World-Leading Brain Research - March 6th, 2012 [March 6th, 2012]
- R5.5m claim after baby born with cerebral palsy - March 6th, 2012 [March 6th, 2012]
- Uncertainty over NHS reforms threatens future of world leading cerebal palsy centre - March 6th, 2012 [March 6th, 2012]
- Birth Injuries from Medical Malpractice Can Create a Lifetime of Financial and Emotional Challenges for Victims and ... - March 7th, 2012 [March 7th, 2012]
- Ontario brains put their heads together - March 7th, 2012 [March 7th, 2012]
- ‘PediaSuit’ helps cerebral palsy patient walk - March 9th, 2012 [March 9th, 2012]
- Charity Caudwell Children donates wheelchair to Norwich youngster - March 10th, 2012 [March 10th, 2012]
- Elgin Easter Seals gets more space, bilingual programs - March 11th, 2012 [March 11th, 2012]
- A war on brain illness should be declared - March 12th, 2012 [March 12th, 2012]
- More children now living with 'life-limiting' conditions - March 12th, 2012 [March 12th, 2012]
- Assessing innovative intervention for children with cerebral palsy - March 15th, 2012 [March 15th, 2012]
- Cerebral Palsy In Children - Innovative Intervention Evaluated - March 15th, 2012 [March 15th, 2012]
- Cerebral palsy hindering 4-year-oldâs movement - March 17th, 2012 [March 17th, 2012]
- West Fargo boy with cerebral palsy can now walk without crutches; parents credit stem cell therapy - March 19th, 2012 [March 19th, 2012]
- Cerebral palsy research brings hope to new mums - March 21st, 2012 [March 21st, 2012]
- Center offers hyperbaric treatment - March 21st, 2012 [March 21st, 2012]
- $100-million Children’s Treatment Centre to be built in lower city - March 22nd, 2012 [March 22nd, 2012]
- White Lodge Centre marks 50 years in 2012 - March 22nd, 2012 [March 22nd, 2012]
- Telethon Delivers Life Changing Services - March 23rd, 2012 [March 23rd, 2012]
- Teachers allegedly call special-needs kid 'disgusting' - March 31st, 2012 [March 31st, 2012]
- Cerebral palsy drug may offer hope for treatment - April 20th, 2012 [April 20th, 2012]
- Prevention of cerebral palsy - April 20th, 2012 [April 20th, 2012]
- Study gives new hope on cerebral palsy - April 20th, 2012 [April 20th, 2012]
- Prrvention of cerebral palsy - April 20th, 2012 [April 20th, 2012]
- PRB at Wayne State/DMC discover window of opportunity to prevent cerebral palsy - April 20th, 2012 [April 20th, 2012]