The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), in partnership with Reckitt, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NEST360, SCIDaR, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and others, has officially launched Project Oscar – Light for Life, a major initiative to improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) across Nigeria.
Addressing an Urgent Health Challenge
Neonatal jaundice affects approximately 60% of term newborns and nearly all preterm infants in Nigeria. If left untreated, it can result in severe complications such as brain damage and cerebral palsy. Despite the availability of effective treatments, many healthcare settings still face challenges including poor diagnostics, limited access to quality phototherapy, and persistent misconceptions around the condition.
What Project Oscar Aims to Do
Launched in Lagos on December 3, 2024, to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Project Oscar seeks to:
- ・Equip health facilities with effective phototherapy units and bilirubinometers.
- ・Train healthcare professionals on early identification and management of NNJ.
- ・Raise community awareness and educate over 10,000 mothers and families to recognize early symptoms.
Over its 18-month duration, the program aims to screen more than 9,000 infants and significantly reduce the risk of kernicterus and other disabilities linked to untreated jaundice.
Leadership and Advocacy
Global disability advocate Oscar Anderson MBE attended the launch, highlighting the real-world impacts of untreated NNJ. Her Excellency Toyin Saraki, Founder and President of WBFA, emphasized the urgent need to tackle neonatal jaundice as a major—but preventable—contributor to neonatal mortality and disability in Nigeria.
A Shared Commitment
Akbar Ali Shah, CEO of Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, reiterated the company’s commitment to driving healthcare improvements. “This partnership strengthens our shared goals of enhancing maternal and child health, and addressing NNJ with urgency and collaboration,” he said.
With its innovative, multi-sectoral approach, Project Oscar – Light for Life is set to make a significant impact on newborn health outcomes across the country.
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