On 12th November 2024, I joined my Wellbeing Foundation Africa Co-Creation Workshop in hosting our technical partners, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – LSHTM, Lagos University Teaching Hospital – LUTH NEST360, and SCIDaR – Solina Centre for International Development and Research as we finalised strategies for Project Oscar in Nigeria, a transformative program to detect and treat neonatal jaundice and prevent kernicterus, a debilitating brain injury and life-long disability for newborns.

Inspired by young disability activist Oscar Anderson MBE, Project Oscar is part of a global initiative addressing neonatal jaundice—a preventable cause of infant mortality and lifelong disabilities. Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Project Oscar has significantly reduced jaundice-related deaths by deploying effective interventions like phototherapy for early treatment. This global success highlights the transformative potential of Project Oscar’s potential to save lives and establish sustainable healthcare practices in Nigeria.

Nigeria ranks among the countries most affected by neonatal jaundice. Launching Project Oscar in Lagos State will play a vital role in reducing neonatal mortality by improving early diagnosis and treatment, ensuring that newborns receive timely, life-saving care.

Our mission to transform neonatal care across Nigeria includes equipping healthcare facilities with essential tools for early screening and treatment, enhancing healthcare workers’ capacity, fostering a community for health-seeking behavior, and strengthening policy advocacy for lasting improvements in neonatal health.

With the support of our social impact partner, Reckitt, and the power of effective light therapy, I am thrilled that this initiative will save lives, prevent disabilities, and create a brighter future for thousands of newborns.

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