Cordillera tops nation’s newborn screening stats

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY-- The Cordillera was found most compliant in following provisions of Republic Act 9288 (on newborn screening statistics) reports from the University of the Philippines, National Institute of Health revealed.

The Newborn Screening Reference Center (UP-NIH-NSRC) said the Cordillera Administrative Region topped the country’s Newborn Screening Program (NBS) implementation with 67.4 percent coverage besting Region 6 (Western Visayas) coverage of 60.5% who placed in second and Region 11(Davao) coverage of 60.3% who landed in third.

Also included in the performance evaluation are Region 1 (32.5%), Region 2 (40.4%), Region 3 (38.8%), NCR (51.6%), Region 4a (38.2%), Region 4b(43%), Region 5(21.5%), Region 7(36%), Region 8 (42.5%), Region 9 (33%), Region 10(50.6%), Region 12 (47.8%), CARAGA (36.4%) and ARMM (15.3%).

The monitoring also showed the country has increased its Newborn Screening Service from 15.6 percent or 234,000 of the 1.5 million babies born annually in 2007 to 42% or 713,580 of the 1.7 million babies born for 2011 which has undergone Newborn Screening.

The Newborn Screening Act was instituted to screen newborns for 5 metabolic disorders or defects that can be cured when detected right after birth.

It involves extracting blood from an infant’s heel to test for Congenital Hypothyroidism, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria and Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD).

Recently, Newborn Hearing Screening have been introduced by Senator Loren Legarda as House Bill 1372 which aims for the early diagnosis, prevention and intervention of hearing loss among children as a separate legislation from that of RA 9288.

The Department of Health says early detection and treatment of these disorders could increase the infants chances of a normal life.

DOH-Center for Health Development-CAR says at least 71 Newborn Screening Facilities (NSF’s), have been their partner in the continued implementation of Newborn Screening Services in the region.

Still, efforts are being undertaken to ensure the nationwide implementation of the newborn screening law.