How fatal can Hyperbilirubinemia be to newborns in developing countries?

Poor healthcare-seeking behavior, limited parental knowledge, and limited treatment resources are major contributing factors to exceptionally high rates of mortality and morbidity associated with neonatal jaundice in Sub-saharan Africa.

In today's robust conversation on June's Protect Mother and Child Forum Webinar with Dr. Minka Ndifon , a 2023 International Maternal Newborn Health Fellow, a Paediatric Resident at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria, drove deep, addressing 'Everything about Jaundice" providing major CALLS TO ACTION directed at significant players in the Maternal and Newborn Health Care sphere.

* The need for mothers to be equipped with robust information on the identification of signs of Jaundice, improved attitude towards birth preparedness, and improved early health-seeking behavior.

* Investment in rural healthcare facilities and community-based insurance is critical to addressing factors contributing to mortality due to neonatal jaundice in rural areas.

* Health education for family members to improve their knowledge and encourage seeking professional advice and treatment instead of enabling home treatment and remedy.

* Investment in health care financing by the government is vital. Ensuring the availability of phototherapy lamps in health care facilities especially in rural HFs, accessibility to Point of Care Devices, community-driven constant messaging through accessible information channels, investment in community-based insurance, and pulling resources to health services in rural areas.

* Investment in the training of CHWs, nurses, and other health care providers across all cadres.

* Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Sub-saharan Africa are a great influence on maternal and newborn survival rates. Collaboration, partnerships, and inclusive training for TBAs are key to eliminating preventable neonatal Jaundice.

Finally, it's imperative for mothers to "Ask questions from healthcare providers" and "Be inquisitive" "Observant" and most importantly "Seek healthcare services early enough to save the lives of newborns"

As we move closer to 2030, it's imperative to deploy all strategies in an holistic and inlusive manner to ensure mothers and newborns do not die due to preventable mortality causes.

The full webinar can be accessed here

https://lnkd.in/dEKJmVgS