Redefining Primary Healthcare for Neonatal Jaundice Management: A Wellbeing Foundation Africa Capacity-Building Approach

I am pleased to share that my Wellbeing Foundation Africa proudly participated in the Africa Primary Health Care Forum 2025, held this week in Abuja under the compelling theme, Reimagining Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa.

At this pivotal convening, the WBFA team, led by Mr. Anselm Nonye Ezeanya, our National M&E Manager, presented the research abstract “Redefining Primary Healthcare for Neonatal Jaundice Management: A Wellbeing Foundation Africa Capacity-Building Approach,” a critical contribution to the ongoing discourse on community-centred health systems and neonatal survival.

Despite being a detectable and treatable condition, neonatal jaundice remains a significant cause of preventable newborn deaths, contributing to an estimated 14% of neonatal mortality in Nigeria.

The WBFA Project Oscar – Light for Life programme, supported by our social impact partners Reckitt, delivered in partnership with NEST360, Solina Centre for International Development & Research (SCIDaR), The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Lagos State Government, Lagos Ministry of Health and rooted in the lived experience and advocacy of Oscar Anderson exemplies our integrated approach of combining early detection, maternal education, and referral strengthening to transform outcomes in primary care.

To date, we have trained 139 health workers (including 11 doctors and 128 midwives) across 12 primary healthcare centres, equipped with 12 phototherapy units and 12 bilirubinometers. Through our Mamacare360 platform, we have reached 47,462 mothers, with 1,520 receiving Bilistrips for home-based screening. As a result, 1,748 newborns have been screened, 182 identified with high bilirubin levels, 109 referred, and 90.1% treated successfully.

I extend my sincere appreciation to all who joined the Forum in pursuit of stronger health systems across the continent. In particular, I acknowledge the presence and contributions of Mr Abubakar Abba and Mr Roger Kanee of Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mr Carlos Yerena of Reach Digital Health, Ms Praise Agbe of Pathfinder International and Mr Ayobami A. Bakare of Oxygen For Life, whose engagement highlights the importance of multisectoral collaboration in advancing Universal Health Coverage.