As 2024 begins, a major event has marked the child health landscape in Nigeria. The recent initiative launched by Reckitt, in partnership with Oscar Anderson, MBE, and the Wellbeing Foundation of Africa (WBFA), has generated significant interest in the fight against neonatal jaundice, a life-threatening condition affecting many children in Nigeria.
The Oscar Light for Life project launch event was held on Tuesday 3rd December 2024, at the Four Points Hotel, Lagos, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This initiative aims to revolutionise the management of neonatal jaundice in Nigeria, a condition affecting nearly 60% of full-term newborns and up to 100% of preterm babies. Despite the effectiveness of available treatments, jaundice remains a major cause of preventable brain damage, such as kernicterus and cerebral palsy, due to gaps in diagnostic tools, often faulty phototherapy equipment and widespread misconceptions about the condition.
The Oscar Project – Light for Life aims to fill these gaps by providing health facilities with essential tools such as phototherapy units and bilirubinometers, ensuring accurate diagnoses and timely treatment. The program also includes training health professionals on the recognition and management of neonatal jaundice, as well as raising awareness among mothers and families to dispel misconceptions. Initially launched in Vietnam by young disability activist Oscar Anderson MBE and Reckitt, where he has treated over 150,000 newborns since 2019, the programme is now expanding to Nigeria as part of a wider effort to reduce neonatal mortality and prevent lifelong disabilities. The initiative is aligned with global health priorities and aims to collaborate with international bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to integrate the management of neonatal jaundice into global neonatal care guidelines.
At the event, Akbar Ali Shah, General Manager for Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the urgency of such an initiative, saying: “Every child deserves a healthy start in life, yet for many families, neonatal jaundice remains a silent threat, often ignored and untreated until it is too late. At Reckitt, we recognise that tackling this challenge requires more than providing tools; it requires strong commitment, strong partnerships and comprehensive education. With Project Oscar, we are bringing together these essential elements.. With Nigeria among the countries most affected by neonatal jaundice, expanding Project Oscar to Nigeria is a transformative step forward and we are determined to ensure that this initiative creates a healthier and brighter future for every child born in Nigeria.”
Her Excellency Toyin Saraki, Founder and Chairperson of the African Wellness Foundation, also commented saying, “It is fitting that we gather on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this year’s theme reminds us that inclusion is not only a moral imperative, but a necessity for sustainable progress and development. Neonatal jaundice, if left untreated, can lead to kernicterus, cerebral palsy and other serious disabilities, contributing to 5-14% of neonatal deaths. The statistics are alarming, but they also call us to action. Today, as we nationally launch Project Oscar – Light for Life, we face this challenge with urgency and determination, and with the understanding that neonatal jaundice is not just a medical issue; it is a matter of equity and justice.”
Oscar Anderson, whose personal journey inspired the initiative, also shared his thoughts on the expansion of Project Oscar to Nigeria: “As someone who has lived the consequences of neonatal jaundice, I know first-hand the pain it can cause – both for the individual and their family. This project was born out of my determination to ensure that no child or parent has to endure what my family has gone through. I am thrilled to see this initiative, which began in my home country of Vietnam, take root in Nigeria, a country where the need is greatest. Neonatal jaundice should never be the cause of lifelong challenges. I look forward to seeing the lives we will change together in Nigeria and beyond, bringing the light of hope and healing to communities that need it most.”
Professor Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, representing the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighted the transformative potential of Project Oscar and its significant pilot in Lagos State. He noted, “It is remarkable how such a simple therapy can profoundly improve the quality of life when timely intervention is provided. Project Oscar is a much-awaited breakthrough in our mission to prevent neonatal jaundice and eradicate kernicterus in Lagos and across Nigeria. Lagos is honoured to be a beneficiary of this visionary initiative that has the potential to transform the