Regional Jaundice Seminar:
St. Patrick Catholic Hospital in Offinso, Ghana.
June 2026
Following the 2026 ICHA & TFBS Neonatology Conference, healthcare teams are taking what they learned and transforming care in their own communities. One remarkable example comes from St. Patrick Catholic Hospital in Offinso, Ghana.
Initially, the hospital planned a small seminar on neonatal jaundice for its Child Health Department. But after attending the TFBS & ICHA conference—bringing together experts and healthcare professionals from 22 African countries—the team realized the challenge was much bigger.
During the TFBS conference, Prof. Tina Slusher highlighted the devastating consequences of severe neonatal jaundice, a largely preventable condition that can lead to lifelong neurological disability. She also described how cultural beliefs and misinformation can delay treatment. In some communities, babies with severe jaundice are believed to be “children of the river gods,” and families may seek traditional remedies rather than urgent medical care.
Inspired by these discussions, pediatrician Dr. Dorcas Naa Dedei Aryeetey and her colleagues launched a quality improvement initiative that expanded far beyond their hospital walls.
Recognizing that disease does not respect hospital boundaries, St. Patrick Catholic Hospital invited ten surrounding health facilities to participate in a regional seminar (and it made headlines in their regional newspaper!).
The event focused not only on clinical care, but also on the social realities that influence decisions. Through role-playing and panel discussions, healthcare workers confronted the barriers families face—financial pressures, spiritual beliefs, and advice from grandparents, pastors, imams, and community leaders.
Their conclusion was profound:
Families do not delay care because they don’t care. They delay because trusted voices shape their understanding. Lasting change requires partnership, not blame.
This is exactly the kind of transformation Tiny Feet Big Steps exists to inspire.
By convening healthcare professionals, sharing evidence-based practices, and fostering collaboration across borders, TFBS is becoming a catalyst for change in hospitals and communities throughout Africa. The ripple effects extend far beyond conference halls—into quality improvement projects, community education campaigns, and stronger healthcare networks that save lives.
Because of your support, knowledge becomes action.
Because of your generosity, hospitals become learning centers.
And because healthcare workers are empowered to address both medical and cultural barriers, more babies are diagnosed early, treated promptly, and given the chance to thrive.
Thank you for helping Tiny Feet Big Steps create lasting change—one hospital, one community, and one newborn at a time.
