by Sherelyn A. Cantonjos and Mary Jean C. Carpio
To further strengthen the quality and consistency of Newborn Screening (NBS) services in the region, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) conducted a hands-on Newborn Screening Training with Actual Heel Prick Practicum on July 22–24, 2025 at the A and A Bed and Breakfast Inn, Legazpi City.
The three-day training brought together healthcare providers from NBS facilities in Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes. Participants gained updated knowledge and practical skills essential for accurate and timely sample collection. Sessions covered the importance of NBS, flow of operations, Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) disorders, policy updates, regional performance ratings, and best practices for ensuring quality samples.
Workshops included proper accomplishment of the filter card and heel prick practice using tomatoes, giving participants hands-on experience in collection techniques. Orientation and updates on the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program were also provided.
A key highlight was the heel prick practicum, where participants performed supervised blood sample collection on newborns at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center and Josefina Belmonte Duran Albay Provincial Hospital. This direct application bridged theory and practice, helping reduce unsatisfactory samples and strengthen early detection of congenital disorders.
This was the second batch of NBS trainings, following the first held in May for healthcare providers from Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Through these efforts, the DOH Bicol CHD continues to support healthcare providers and advance better outcomes for every newborn screened in the region.
