By Juliet Umeh

To combat neonatal jaundice, 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.

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. NEST360 trained 24 healthcare workers in tertiary and secondary hospitals through the “Neonatal Management and Comprehensive Newborn Care Training,” while SCIDaR trained 34 workers in primary healthcare centres, enhancing early recognition and treatment of neonatal jaundice.

Speaking on behalf of SCIDaR, one of the implementing partners, Dr Daniel Adeniyi, said: “Our goal with Project Oscar is to ensure no baby suffers from kernicterus. By training healthcare workers to recognise and treat jaundice promptly, we aim to prevent permanent brain damage.”
Also, the course director, Dr Olatunji Tolulope, explained: “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.

She explained that the course covers various aspects, from preparing for birth, assisting the baby in breathing, initiating early breastfeeding, and preventing infections to identifying and treating jaundice using appropriate equipment. Healthcare workers who return to their facilities are encouraged to mentor others and develop action plans to ensure continuous training, ultimately reducing neonatal mortality in Lagos and Nigeria.

The Country Director for NEST360, Dr. Opeyemi Odedere, highlighting the importance of partnerships and the unique advantages each partner brings.

Director of Programmes, WBFA, Mr Williams Awotunde, explained the broader vision behind the initiative.

“We have teamed up with Reckitt to reduce the incidence and complications of neonatal jaundice in Nigeria, starting with Lagos State. Strengthening the capacity of frontline healthcare workers is essential to improving maternal, child, and neonatal health outcomes.”