by Vanessa B. Mabalo and Thricia Bless Ventura
Following the success of its inaugural event, the Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics (NBSCCs) of Region 1—led by the Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center (ITRMC), alongside the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center (MMMH&MC) and Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC)—conducted the second Regional Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) Camp on October 27-28, 2025, in Santiago, Ilocos Sur.
With full support from the Department of Health’s Ilocos Center for Health and Development (CHD), this year’s camp broadened its focus to include not only metabolic patients but also their entire families. The main objectives were to deliver comprehensive health education, provide multidisciplinary clinical services, and offer team-building activities and stress management counseling for the primary caregivers.
Building Connection with the Primary Care Providers
The two-day camp strategically grouped parents to promote camaraderie and established a therapeutic relationship between the families and healthcare workers. A series of highly practical workshops was conducted, including a session led by Ms. Catherine B. Erestain (Nutritionist-Dietitian II, from the UP Manila National Institutes of Health’s Institute of Human Genetics, who taught parents how to read nutrition facts and compute them for common groceries, ensuring better compliance with prescribed dietary plans. Another practical session introduced families to backyard gardening, emphasizing its financial and health benefits, especially for incorporating vegetables into their children’s meals. Other health lectures covered the neurologic complications of IEM and maintaining “happy kidneys.”
Special Meals and Family Fun
A unique cookfest was spearheaded by the NBSCC nutritionists-dietitians from all three institutions. With proper guidance, parents gained hands-on experience in carefully measuring and preparing special appetizing meals for their children, addressing one of the biggest challenges in dietary compliance. To address caregiver burnout, the NBSCC R1 nurses organized vibrant team-building activities, including banner making, a cheers/jingle contest, and traditional Filipino games (laro ng lahi). These activities ignited the parents’ competitive spirit, providing them with a much-needed opportunity to relax and laugh.
Career Day: A Vision for the Future
The emotional highlight of the camp was the Career Day fashion show, where the IEM patients confidently walked the red carpet dressed as what they aspire to be—ranging from doctors, nurses, and teachers to soldiers and policemen. This inspiring activity was not just a fashion show but a powerful statement of hope and vision. As introduced by Ms. Vanessa Mabalo (NBSCC ITRMC nurse), the event served as a strong motivation for parents and the NBSCC team to continue their commitment, ensuring that children can reach their dream careers despite their conditions.
Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Clinics
A full day of multidisciplinary clinics offered holistic and comprehensive care to all patients. Clinical geneticists from the Center for Human Genetics Services (CHGS) led the consultations, working closely with proactive nutritionist-dietitians from the host facilities to manage and create specific care plans. The clinics included various subspecialties such as Developmental Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Nephrology, and Dental Services. The services were expanded to include Medical Social Services, where social workers provided counseling and assessed the primary caregivers for potential mental health referrals, ensuring that all aspects of the patients’ and families’ needs were met.
Sustaining Commitment for a Healthier Future
The camp concluded with a commitment to long-term support and a generous giving of gifts. Families received food packs, gardening tools, hygiene kits, and other supplies. To promote better adherence to diet and monitoring, the DOH-Ilocos CHD also funded practical anthropometrics kits (weighing scales, tape measures) and food preparation kits (digital weighing scales, measuring tools) for each patient. In the closing remarks, Dr. Alma Estrada (R1MC NBSCC Follow up Head) promised to continue these essential activities, while Dr. Ebner Bon Maceda (CHGS Director) congratulated the organizing team, underscoring that their teamwork and passion inspire the advancement of newborn screening and the movement “toward a healthier future for every child.”
