We want every baby, in every setting, to have the best start in life.
Picterus Newborn Health is a non-profit dedicated to working towards a world where all newborns receive equal access to quality healthcare.
Jaundice, also known as hyperbilirubinemia, affects 60–80% of newborns globally 1. Approximately 10% of these cases progress to severe neonatal jaundice 2.
Every year, approximately 1.1 million newborns, mostly in low-resource settings, develop severe hyperbilirubinemia due to the lack of accessible jaundice screening solutions 3,4.
When jaundice is left undetected and untreated, it can cause
significant and irreversible health complications including:
Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy (ABE):
A critical condition where elevated bilirubin levels cross into the
newborn's brain. Immediate treatment is essential to prevent lasting damage.
Kernicterus: A life-threatening condition with permanent or chronic brain damage secondary to untreated ABE. Consequences include hearing impairment, cerebral palsy, cognitive and development delays and dental problems.
ABE / Kernicterus are 17 times more prevalent in underserved areas than in wealthier countries 5.
ABE / Kernicterus are 17 times more prevalent in underserved areas than in wealthier countries 5.
While kernicterus is entirely preventable it is crucial to recognize newborns at risk of developing irreversible outcomes 4. Ensuring early detection and treatment of jaundice is key to safeguarding the health and future of newborns worldwide 4, 6.
*please see references at the bottom of the page.
We are a small team of dedicated and passionate individuals committed to make jaundice screening and care easily accessible to newborns worldwide.
We do not limit ourselves to a particular country or region. We recognize that in order to make a difference and provide lasting change, it is incredibly important to work together with local authorities, partners and communities, tailoring our approach to each unique project.
Thanks to the collaboration between our valued in-country partners, we are able to help more families and newborns and move closer toward our goal of giving every baby the best start in life.
Photo credit: Dr. Jennifer Harling, Kibuye Hope Hospital, Burundi
Our focus is on low-resource settings and making sure jaundice screening and care is readily available
Video credit: Dr. Jennifer Harling, Kibuye Hope Hospital, Burundi.
Revolutionizing newborn health with innovation
“Did you know neonatal jaundice is a silent yet critical threat to newborns, especially in low-resource settings? If left untreated, it can lead to kernicterus – a devastating and preventable condition that causes lifelong brain damage.
Fortunately, Picterus Jaundice Pro is changing this narrative in Gulu! This innovative mobile app equips healthcare professionals with a low-cost, accurate, and accessible tool for early jaundice detection. We can prevent complications, protect newborn health, and reduce the risk of severe outcomes with timely screening. But that’s not all! Picterus Jaundice Pro also enables parents to screen their babies from home, allowing for early detection before visiting a healthcare facility. This groundbreaking approach:
A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors. Your support is introducing life-saving technology to Gulu and empowering families and healthcare workers. Together, we are creating a brighter and healthier future for newborns in Gulu and beyond!”
“Neonatal jaundice affects many newborns and, if left untreated, can cause permanent neurological damage. Innovative screening tools which are easy to use even in rural communities like Picterus are very crucial for early detection hence ensuring timely treatment, preventing serious complications. Tanzania Better Health is delighted to partner with Picterus joining forces integrating this jaundice screening technology for better health outcomes for newborns.”
Founder and CEO, Tanzania Better Health, Tanzania
“I have been practicing midwifery for nearly 40 years and had the opportunity to work in many different countries around the globe. Neonatal jaundice is a common challenge for all babies regardless of the place they were born. The app gave me an additional reliable result to support my clinical judgment when I was working in Germany. It was easy to teach the parents to use the app as well and to call me with the result. This helped me in managing the high work. I would like to see the App soon in many underserved countries because, with no access to laboratories, any other TCB technology and often untrained personnel in post-natal care, this easy-to-use app can save many lives.”
Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Consultant - New Zealand
Location: Tanzania, Monduli
Partner: Tanzania Better Health (TBH)
Helping a comunity in the Arusha region
Our Goal: To offer jaundice screening during scheduled mobile health clinic visits to the local community, giving healthcare professionals and parents clear and immediate results on whether their newborn is showing signs of jaundice. The project will also provide phototherapy treatment for those newborns who need follow-up treatment: In collaboration with our local partners TBH, we will deploy our first outreach project serving the Monduli community.
Photo credit: Dr. Leonard J. Malasa, Tanzania Better Heath, Tanzania.
Join our mission to make jaundice screening accessible to newborns globally, giving every baby the best start in life.
Your support will enable us to reach more families with newborns, making sure they have access to accurate and timely screening, preventing complications related to undetected Jaundice.
Picterus AS is a private limited liability company registered in Norway.
Picterus Newborn Health is a subsidiary of Picterus AS
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