Health specialists at the Ho Teaching Hospital are intensifying public education on neonatal jaundice as the condition continues to rank among the leading causes of admissions at the hospital’s paediatric unit.
According to the doctors, delayed treatment and widespread misconceptions about the condition are putting newborns at serious risk.
Speaking on the issue on Sunday, May 24, 2026, the Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at the hospital, Dr. Selorm Tsrakasu, explained that neonatal jaundice is common and treatable, but can become life-threatening if care is delayed.
He noted that symptoms such as yellowing of the eyes and skin, poor feeding, excessive sleepiness, and unusual weakness in newborns should prompt immediate medical attention.
According to him, late presentation of cases can lead to severe complications, including brain damage and death, despite the condition being largely manageable when detected early.
Dr. Tsrakasu stressed the need for increased awareness among parents and caregivers to ensure early diagnosis and prompt treatment, reducing preventable newborn complications in the Volta Region and beyond.
