A Pediatric Nurse Specialist, Evelyn Sunu has advised nursing and expectant mothers to take a keen interest in breastfeeding their babies.

This she said would contribute to safeguarding the newborns against contracting diseases including neonatal jaundice, a leading cause of death in neonates.

She was speaking at the launch of the Neonatal Jaundice Awareness Campaign, an initiative by the Ho Teaching Hospital, aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of the health condition.

"Breastfeeding is not just about nutrition; it's also about preventing conditions like neonatal jaundice", she said.

Mrs. Sunu urged healthcare workers to enhance their efforts in educating expectant mothers about the effects and prevention of neonatal jaundice.

She said, "healthcare workers must be diligent in providing comprehensive information to expectant mothers, ensuring they understand the risks and signs of neonatal jaundice and how to seek timely intervention."

A Pediatric Specialist at the Ho Teaching Hospital, Dr. Seyram Tsrakasu said the facility’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has identified neonatal jaundice as the primary cause of newborn admissions.

This he said prompted the Hospital to launch the Neonatal Jaundice Awareness Campaign.

Dr. Tsrakasu said that activities of the campaign to help reduce neonatal jaundice cases would include educating the healthcare workers, with a focus on nurses and midwives, and also demystifying the myths surrounding the condition.

"Data from the past years has shown that most cases of neonatal jaundice admissions result from negligence on the part of healthcare workers, particularly in terms of the advice they give to mothers when they notice their babies have jaundice," Dr. Tsrakasu said.

The hospital's data indicates a reduction in neonatal jaundice admissions, with numbers decreasing from 415 in 2022 to 325 in 2023, with two deaths within the period.