On February 6th, 2025, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) held the Project Oscar Stakeholder Meeting in Lagos, Nigeria. This 18-month initiative sponsored by Reckitt, aims to screen over 9,000 newborns for Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ) – a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to severe complications, including brain damage. The project focuses on early detection, timely referrals, and improving access to life-saving care.
A Collaborative Effort to Save Lives
Neonatal jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and eyes in newborns, is common but can become life-threatening without prompt treatment. Through Project Oscar, WBFA and Reckitt are providing education, training, and essential medical equipment to strengthen healthcare systems in Lagos State. This includes 18 phototherapy units, 12 transcutaneous bilirubinometers, and 18 BiliDx bilirubinometers to support early diagnosis and effective treatment.
Over the next 18 months, the project will do the following:
- Screen 9,000 newborns for neonatal jaundice.
- Train 300 healthcare workers on improved NNJ management.
- Educate 10,000 mothers on recognizing early signs and seeking care.
- Equip healthcare facilities with essential diagnostic and treatment tools, including phototherapy machines, bilirubinometers, and Bilistrips for home monitoring.
Addressing Critical Gaps in Care
At the stakeholder meeting, Her Excellency, Toyin Saraki, WBFA’s Founder and President, emphasized the urgency of addressing neonatal jaundice in Nigeria. Represented by Williams Awotunde, WBFA’s Director of Programmes, she highlighted that 60% of term newborns and nearly 100% of preterm babies are affected by jaundice. Delays in diagnosis and treatment often lead to complications such as kernicterus, cerebral palsy, and hearing loss.
“Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated, evidence-based approach,” Saraki noted. She stressed the importance of strengthening referral systems and engaging communities to overcome cultural beliefs and misconceptions that delay care.
Building Strong Partnerships for Sustainable Change
Key partners, including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, NEST360, SCIDaR, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, support the project. Together, they aim to integrate neonatal jaundice screening into routine neonatal care and improve access to life-saving treatment.
Dr. Olutekunbi Olanike, Medical Director of Massey Street Children’s Hospital, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major boost to neonatal care in Lagos. “This project extends beyond tertiary hospitals—it brings vital resources to primary healthcare centers, ensuring babies can be identified and treated early,” she remarked.
Through Project Oscar, WBFA is ensuring the reduction of neonatal mortality.