Ghana Health Service (GHS) has received a phototherapy equipment from IPMC through the Hungarian Ambassador to enhance neonatal care in the country.

The new neonatal jaundice machine would help shorten the treatment time of sick babies from one week to a day or two.

The Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, Tamás Fehér, handing over the equipment to the GHS, said the specially adapted equipment would ensure timely treatment to save the lives of babies.

“We've just been to Princess Mary-Louise Hospital and I was told that seven out of ten newborns have symptoms of jaundice. So, it's very important that you treat it timely and this machine is specially adapted for that purpose because it shortens the treatment period from one week to one to two days."

"It is very effective. It's also the latest technology and this is the best that you can have on the market,” he mentioned.  

Mr Fehér mentioned that the partnership with IPMC had seen the establishment of two hospitals in Bolgatanga and were also in the process of completing the Tamale Eye Hospital which would be dedicated to specialized eye diseases. 

The Acting Director General of GHS, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, receiving the equipment, said the equipment would ensure the survival of children, especially newborns in the Upper East Region. 

“It could be considered one of the deprived places and if we have one of this equipment and then we get the next one, it will definitely change lives,” he added. 

“Every child counts, and we need to give the opportunity to all children to survive. I did not take this position to supervise the deaths of children, rather to supervise their survival and that of women,” he said. 

Prof Akoriyea, while assuring the donors of proper maintenance of the equipment, called on stakeholders and philanthropists to support the health sector as the United States of America had terminated about 83 per cent their aid to the sector. 

“I will emphatically and categorically say that every support that will be given to us will be accountable because one of the principles of the management team is accountability,” he stated.

Jaundice is manifested in the yellow colour seen on the skin of many newborn babies. It is caused by a buildup of a bilirubin in the baby’s blood.

It happens because their livers are not developed enough to get rid of the bilirubin. Jaundice is very common and usually goes away on its own. Sometimes, babies need treatment with phototherapy.