By VINA G. MENDOZA
“We are here today as persistent, as resourceful, and as resilient as the newborn screening program,” said Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, executive director of the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, as she opened this year’s highly anticipated two-day annual National Newborn Screening (NBS) Convention on October 7, 2024 at the Manila Hotel, 1 Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila.
Cutiongco-de la Paz recognized the small but significant beginnings that blossomed into a full-bloom national healthcare program and the most successful screening program today. Despite initial funding and logistics issues, the program has found success because of the different stakeholders. True to this year’s theme “STRONG NBS: Strengthening the Resources and Outcomes for the Next Generation,” the convention highlighted the humble beginnings of the program, the partnerships and strategies that strengthened its implementation, and how key program implementers are further improving the services provided to patients.
This year’s convention was attended by over a thousand participants. Among them were experts, practitioners, and leaders from national government agencies, academic institutions, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. It gathered managers, coordinators, and representatives from the Centers for Health Development, Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics, Centers for Human Genetics Services, Newborn Screening Centers, and newborn screening facilities around the country.Patients were represented by mothers who recounted their experiences from the moment their children were diagnosed with a disorder up to up to the time when their child is exhibiting excellence in school or the workplace.
Dr. Ebner Bon G. Maceda, overall chair of the NBS Convention 2024, shared that this year’s convention was committed to enhancing and improving health outcomes as the future of the children helps the stakeholders continue the program.
Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Senator Christopher Lawrence T Go, in his keynote speech, emphasized his commitment to public service and healthcare. He spoke about his initiatives and continuous efforts to enhance the healthcare system in the country. Introduced by Dr. Conchita Abarquez, head of the Newborn Screening Center Mindanao, Senator Go conveyed his appreciation for the chance to assist the Filipino people and noted the presence of participants from different regions along with notable medical figures who are the primary organizers of the NBS Convention in 2024.
Participants in the two-day event had the unique chance to learn from the experiences of the experts, health professionals in the communities, and affected families, and connect with other program implementers. The event also boasted an impressive lineup of speakers who delved into key topics relevant to powering up on current trends in newborn screening, upskilling on hemoglobinopathies, advancing newborn screening through genomics, revitalizing collaborative strategies for improved patient outcomes, strengthening roots and outcomes through updates and experiences, and energizing newborn programs toward new directions.
The first plenary session highlighted insights from National Scientist Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, also one of the proponents of the newborn screening program in the Philippines. She walked the participants through the history of the Newborn Screening Program. Day 1 of the convention placed emphasis on the following topics: disease mapping; hemoglobinopathies, cystic fibrosis, and tyrosinemia type 1 disorders; genomic applications in newborn screening and management; and ethics of genomic newborn screening. The results of the following researchers were also presented: Plasma Carnitine Levels of MSUD and Classical PKU on Protein Restricted Diets, Clinical and Biochemical Profiles of Patients Flagged for Increased Tyrosine via Expanded Newborn Screening, and Clinical, Biochemical and Genetic Profiles of Patients Screened with Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders.
DOH OIC Assistant Secretary Dr. Albert Francis E. Domingo discussed the state of newborn screening in Universal Health Care. He underlined the two considerations when doing newborn screening: 1) Will the newborn become well? and 2) How much money will be needed?
Dr. Barbra Charina V. Cavan, 2024 chair of the Convention Scientific Committee and chair of the Experts Committee on Metabolic Disorders of the Newborn Screening Reference Center, ended the convention by announcing that next year’s theme will focus on outcomes, programs, progresses, and advances.
For the past 21 years, the National Newborn Screening Convention has been one of the major highlights in the celebration of the Newborn Screening Week held every first week of October. The convention is hosted by the Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines Inc. (NSSPI) in collaboration with the Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC)-National Institutes of Health Philippines, University of the Philippines Manila. The latter has grown to be a major partner since its founding in 2005, in providing continuing education for a range of health professionals, including nurses, doctors, midwives, medical technologists, nutritionists, and chemists.
