Six newborn babies with jaundice share one phototherapy machine at the saint Theresa hospital in Nandom in the upper west region.
The medical superintendent of the hospital, dr. Sebastian Yidana, says though they are aware the practice exposes the babies to high risk, there is no option left for them.
Infant or neonatal jaundice is a health condition, where the baby’s skin and the white part of the eyes appear yellowish, leading to child mortality if not treated.
The disease is usually detected during the first week of a baby’s life.
If left untreated can lead to brain damage.
Since 2020, the saint Theresa’s hospital in Nandom has recorded 1,123 admissions of newborns at the neonatal intensive care unit with 244 of these babies having jaundice.
On average, 40 babies are admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit every month, this year, 60 babies have so far been admitted with jaundice even before the first half of the year.
The medical superintendent of the saint Theresa hospital, dr. Sebastian Yidana is worried about the inadequate number of phototherapy machines at the facility.
A pediatric physician of the hospital, dr. Mark Padmore Awudu was worried about the situation especially inadequate space at the neonatal intensive care unit.
Some nursing mothers who had their babies detained at the neonatal unit shared their experiences of services rendered at the hospital, and call on government and individuals to help salvage the situation.
The pediatric society of Ghana has set aside the month of May every year to create awareness on newborn jaundice.
The society also advocates for phototherapy machines and other logistics needed for the treatment of newborns with jaundice.
