Newborn screening not mandatory

CEBU, Philippines - More than 15 years since the Department of Health started a nationwide campaign, there are still hospitals and birthing institutions that have not made the newborn screening mandatory.

Myra Salvaleon, a DOH-7 newborn screening nurse, said during the Kapihan sa PIA forum said not all health facilities are making the screening mandatory.

“But fortunately, all hospitals in Cebu are making newborn screening mandatory. But some rural heath units facilities, gamay pa gyud ang maka-comply ani,” Salvaleon said.

Dominic Buensalido, project development officer of the Newborn Screening Center-Central Visayas, said it is important that newborn babies undergo screening for early detection of six metabolic disorders.

“Early detection of these disorders would eventually save the babie’s lives and live a normal life as they grow old,” Buensalido said.

Salvaleon said this is one of the reasons that the health department strongly advised pregnant mothers not to undergo “home birth.”

“Kay kasagaran g’yud dili ma-screened ang bata basta sa balay gipanganak. Then only to find out later nga naay diay deperensiya ang bata,” Salvaleon added.

NBS is ideally done from 48th to 72nd hour of life. However, it may also be done 24 hours from birth. It is done by taking a few drops of blood from the baby’s heel and sent to Newborn Screening Center.

The six conditions that are currently screened are: congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, phenylketonuria, galactosemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and maple syrup urine disease.

NBS aimed to  early identify infants who are affected by these genetic/metabolic/infectious conditions.

According to DOH, early identification and timely intervention can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.

NBS in the Philippines started in June 1996 and was integrated into the public health delivery system with the enactment of the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9288).

The law ensures that every baby born in the Philippines undergoes NBS.

Under PhilHealth’s Newborn Care Package, the amount of coverage is P1,750 wherein services also include eye prophylaxis, umbilical cord care, Vitamin K, thermal care, administration of BCG vaccine and resuscitation of the newborn, first dose of Hepatitis B immunization and the Newborn screening tests.

Currently, there are four Newborn Screening Centers (NSCs) in the country: NSC-National Institutes of Health in Manila; NSC- Visayas in Iloilo City; NSC-Mindanao in Davao City; and NSC-Central Luzon in Angeles City.

These centers provide laboratory and follow up services to more than 3,000 health facilities.  (FREEMAN)