DOH eyes expansion of screening program

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-7 is pushing for the expansion of the newborn screening program to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of possible serious diseases among infants in Central Visayas.

Myra Salvaleon, DOH-7 program coordinator, said the newborn screening aims at detecting birth defects, which usually look normal at birth.

Salvaleon, in an AGIO forum held at the DOH-7 compound yesterday, said an early identification and timely intervention can lead to significant reduction of morbidity and mortality in infants. 

Screening of newborn babies within 48 hours or at least 24 hours from birth is a must, she said.

Under the screening, drops of blood will be taken from the baby’s heel, blotched on a special absorbent card, and dried for at least four hours. The procedure may be done by a physician, nurse, midwife or medical technologist.

Salvaleon said the screening’s main purpose is to determine whether a baby has metabolic disorders such as congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, galactosernea, phenylketonuria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

In the case of galactosernea, the body is unable to process galactose, which is the sugar that is present in milk.

On the other hand, phenylketonuria is a metabolic disorder wherein the body cannot properly use one of the building blocks of protein called phenylalanine. Excessive accumulation of this substance in the human body causes brain damage.

Glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenas, is a deficiency which is a condition where the body lacks the enzyme called G6PD, which may cause hemolytic anemia resulting from exposure to certain drugs, foods and chemicals.

Salvaleon said these disorders, when left undiagnosed, could cause a big impact on the development and life of the newborn.

The program was integrated into the public health delivery system with the enactment of the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 or Republic Act 9288.

These four NSCs provide laboratory and follow up services for more than three thousand health facilities. The cost for the laboratory testing is around P550 to P600.

DOH-7 and other stakeholders are trying to intensify awareness in the communities on the newborn screening program. — (FREEMAN)