DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines — The Department of Health in Region 7 (DoH-7) is intensifying its advocacy on the Newborn Screening (NBS) program which is directed at the early detection of certain genetic, metabolic and/or infectious conditions in infants.

DoH-7 program coordinator of the Newborn Screening program Myra Salvaleon said newborn screening is a simple way of knowing the condition of an infant having a congenital metabolic disorder that may cause mental retardation or in many cases, disability or death.

Early identification and timely intervention can lead to significant reduction of morbidity, mortality, and associated disabilities in affected infants, she said.

Salvacion added that the program usually begins with a blood test or other tests which is used to identify serious or life-threatening conditions that may lead to health problems.

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

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

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-P600.

In Central Visayas, as of first semester of 2011, 18 percent of newborn infants have already undergone newborn screening while in the previous year, 28 percent of infants were screened.