In the Philippines, 1 in 63 newborns has glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the most common screened disorder in the Philippine NBS program.
Diagnosing G6PD is through confirmatory testing which is one of the components of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System. In collaboration with the National Institutes of Health – Newborn Screening Reference Center, the Department of Health (DOH) established G6PD Confirmatory Centers in strategic areas to make the G6PD confirmatory testing more accessible. There are currently thirty-two (32) such centers located throughout the country.
The latest to be set up is the one at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital (DJFMH) in the San Lazaro Compound, Tayuman Street, Sta. Cruz, City of Manila, Metro Manila. The facility is the 5th G6PD confirmatory center in the National Capital Region, with the others as follows:
Center – Address
1. Manila Central University- Filemon D. Tanchoco Medical Foundation, Inc. – Samson Road, EDSA, Caloocan City
2. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital – 46 P. Sanchez St., Sta Mesa Manila
3. The Medical City – Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Metro Manila
4. University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center – Alabang Zapote Rd. Pamplona III, Las Pinas City
The Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital is a 700-bed capacity, Level III (specialty and end-referral) teaching and training hospital for Obstetrics, Gynecology, Anesthesiology, Newborn Medicine, and Pediatrics. It is currently headed by its medical center chief, Dr. Salvador B. Evardone.
To guarantee the consistency and reliability of G6PD confirmatory test results, the DJFMH will take part in the International External Quality Assurance Program (EQAP) of the Preventive Medicine Foundation (PMF) in Taiwan in cooperation with the NSRC, with all DOH-licensed G6PD confirmatory testing centers in the country.
The G6PD deficiency is an x-linked inherited disorder in which upon a baby’s birth, there is already something wrong with how his or her body makes and breaks important substances. In this case, it lacks the G6PD enzyme which helps in the protection of red blood cells from damage.
VGMendoza
