by Andrea Mikkaela R. Andres, RND, Jhonalyn D. Bantigue, RN, and Rosemarie I. Lacorte
The Department of Health (DOH) – Center for Health Development (CHD) CALABARZON, in partnership with various stakeholders, carried out a series of significant activities in September and October 2025 focused on promoting and providing the Newborn Screening (NBS) program and ensuring long-term care for confirmed patients.
Newborn Screening Caravan
The month kicked off with a successful two-day Newborn Screening Caravan, bringing free expanded screening services directly to the communities. On September 9, 2025, sixty-six (66) infants in Silang, Cavite, received the free Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS). Beyond the screening, the program provided postpartum counseling, nutrition counseling, and free Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV) for mothers, highlighting a holistic approach to health. The caravan continued its outreach on September 10, 2025, reaching 74 infants in Batangas.
Developmental Pediatric Consultation
From September 16 to 18, 2025, the DOH-CHD CALABARZON and the Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics of Region 4A held a Developmental Pediatrician Consultation for confirmed newborn screening patients. Twenty-four (24) patients from four provinces in the region were assessed during this three-day event, in partnership with the De La Salle University Medical Center’s Developmental Pediatrics. The developmental screening is vital for the early identification of potential developmental issues in children.
This timely intervention is crucial, as early detection allows for prompt access to therapies and resources, maximizing a child’s potential and overall well-being. The long-term goal of the NBSCC is to ensure patients identified through NBS receive quality chronic disease management, condition-specific treatment, and age-appropriate preventive care throughout their lives. The DOH Calabarzon provided meals, with some
LGUs offering free transportation to the families.
Multidisciplinary Clinic Consultation
A landmark Multidisciplinary Clinic Consultation was held on September 25, 2025, by the NBSCC-Laguna, in partnership with the DOH-CHD 4A and the Center for Human Genetics Services. This initiative aimed to establish a one-stop clinic for children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) and endocrine disorders diagnosed through the NBS Program. The clinic successfully brought together a team of experts, including a geneticist, metabolic specialist, nutritionists, pediatric neurologists, occupational therapists, a dentist, and a social worker.
A total of 19 families benefited from the clinic, with each patient receiving comprehensive medical, nutritional, developmental, behavioral, and dental evaluations. This model significantly reduced the need for families to travel to different hospitals for separate consultations, improving patient compliance and promoting better health outcomes.
Reunion of Saved Babies
The inspiring series of activities culminated with the much-anticipated Reunion of Saved Babies from Cavite and Rizal Provinces on October 3-4, 2025. This heartwarming event celebrated the lives and milestones of children whose metabolic conditions were successfully managed thanks to the early diagnosis provided by the Newborn Screening Program. Parents shared powerful testimonies of their children’s journeys, emphasizing the transformative impact of adherence to treatment and consistent medical follow-up.
The reunion was celebrated with a joyful atmosphere filled with games and entertainment, reflecting gratitude and the recognition that early diagnosis and proper management can genuinely save lives.
