Health department promotes way to detect disorders

Saturday, December 31, 2011

FOR only P550, parents can find out if their soon-to-be-born children have congenital disorders.

Dr. Nyda Bautista, Department of Health (DOH) medical specialist, said through newborn screening, disorders in children can be detected early.

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“The earlier we detect it (disorder), the less difficult we can treat it,” said Bautista.

Bautista, also coordinator of newborn screening program, said the procedure can be implemented during the prenatal stage.

According to the DOH website, newborn screening is one way of determining if a child has congenital metabolic disorder that may lead to mental retardation and even death if left untreated.

She said some babies who look normal at birth may later show symptoms disorders.

Bautista said newborn screening is done on the 48th hour or at least 24 hours before a child’s birth.

The procedure involves pricking the heel of the fetus to obtain blood samples. It could lead to the detection of congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, galactosemia, phenylketonuria and G6PD deficiency.

The fee for newborn screening is P550 and P50 for the blood sample collection, as mandated by the DOH.

In Central Visayas, there are about 200 health facilities that offer newborn screening.

Newborn screening is provided under Republic Act 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act, which became effective in 1996.

As of last August, 27 babies in Cebu were found to suffer from congenital hypothyroidism, seven have congenital andrenal hyperplasia and two have galactosemia.

Galactosemia is a rare genetic metabolic disorder that affects an individual’s ability to properly metabolize the sugar galactose.

Last year, only 28 percent of babies in Central Visayas underwent newborn screening.