News
Medical advice: Don’t confine newborns to the room…bring them out once daily
Mothers have been cautioned against the practice of keeping newborns indoor for about seven days, as some customs and tradition demand.
It has been recommended that instead of keeping neonates in the room until it is time for their christening or naming ceremony, babies should be brought out at least once a day for “general observation,” including signs of Neonatal Jaundice.
This, according to Paediatrician, Dr Okine Brako, is necessary because Neonatal Jaundice remains the leading cause of illness (morbidity) at Intensive Care Units (ICU), especially within the first two weeks of birth.
Speaking to The Spectator about the condition, he said although the number of deaths recorded as a result of neonatal jaundice (mortality) in babies was low, the side effects of the condition which includes cerebral palsy were increasing.
Although statistics were not readily available, he said Neonatal Jaundice was “bound to occur in about 60 per cent of new born babies.”
Neonatal Jaundice is explained as the “yellow discoloration of a newborn baby’s skin and eyes, which occurs because the baby’s blood contains an excess of bilirubin” (a yellow pigment of red blood cells).
It is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies. Doctors say it may occur because a baby’s liver “is not matured enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream.”
Dr. Okine explained two types of the condition as physiologic jaundice (which occurs within 48 to 72 hours after birth) and pathologic jaundice (which occurs with 24 hours) and said parents should pay serious attention to the latter (pathologic jaundice).
He said severe jaundice in babies (if not attended to promptly) could cause permanent brain damage leading to cerebral palsy.
He stated blood incompatibility between mother and baby, infections, enzyme deficiency, and improper breast feeding as some of the causes of (physiologic) neonatal jaundice.
Dr. Okine, also the Head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, said treatment for babies with the condition included phototherapy (where babies are placed under artificial lights) while in other instances treatment may require “blood exchange transfusion.”
“Blood exchange transfusion is where we gradually change the whole baby’s blood and it takes about four hours to do that,” he noted.
He said, for this reason, there was the need to draw more attention to neonatal jaundice, encourage parents to be vigilant and seek early treatment because “early identification can save lives.”
“Mothers must pay keen attention to yellowing of the skin and take the child to hospital. They should not sit and wait. Don’t keep newborns in the dark. Bring the baby out every day and look out for signs of jaundice,” he stressed.
The month of May each year is dedicated worldwide to creating awareness on Neonatal Jaundice and this year’s theme is “Survive and Thrive from Yellow to Hero.”
By Ernest Nutsugah
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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