The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has taken the lead to tackle neonatal health challenge, particularly neonatal jaundice in Ghana.

He is doing this in collaboration with institutions such as IPMC Ghana, MEDICOR, the Embassy of Hungary in Accra, and JA Health Hub, with an aim to improve infant health care across all regions in Ghana, and especially in areas where neonatal challenges are highly reported.

This came to light at an event held in Accra on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 dubbed: “Neonatal Health Challenges; the Role of Society”.

In a brief remark, the Ga Mantse emphasized that there is an urgent need to put the necessary structures and interventions in place to enhance the health of newborns in order to reduce and possibly mitigate the morbidity and mortality rate associated with neonatal challenges in Ghana.

To achieve that objective, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II said there was the need for a collective collaboration of stakeholders, the health sector, and society in general.

With the support of other key stakeholders in health, the Ga Mantse donated two phototherapy units and an incubator to the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, to aid in the treatment of neonatal jaundice.

In an address, the CEO of IPMC Ghana, Dr. Amar Deep S Hari, said by all means, everything possible needs to be done to save newborns from neonatal health challenges which are largely preventable.

He believes that with the necessary equipment, trained health professionals, neonatal challenges could be a thing of the past.

This, he averred, would help improve the lives of newborns and help them enjoy a quality life right into their adulthood.

Meanwhile, presenting on the causes and prevention of neonatal challenges in newborns, Dr. Maame Yaa Nyarko of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, said neonatal challenges are preventable if right steps are taken.

She described neonatal jaundice as the yellowish discoloration of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes as a result of the breakdown of red blood cells RBC; and it happens within the first 24 hours of life.

From the two types of neonatal jaundice – Physiologic, and Pathologic, Dr. Nyarko said the majority of newborns spontaneously recover without any treatment except for close monitory by health personnel.

However, a small percentage die from complications, while some survivors live with permanent neurologic sequalae (cerebral palsy) for life, and even death.

Risk factors for neonatal jaundice, she said, included a mother with blood group O Rh’ D, a sibling who was jaundiced as neonate, unrecognised hemolysis, non-optimal sucking/nursing, deficiency of G6PD, infection, and bruising.

Neonatal jaundice, according to the medical doctor, can be curb when new mothers are educated on how to detect and handle it before they are discharged from the hospital.

She also advised that new mothers to examine their babies in the early morning sunlight as that would help them detect if their jaundiced, and quickly report to the clinic.

Early breastfeeding after birth, and investing in phototherapy units are the surest way to prevent neonatal jaundice, Dr. Nyarko stressed.