by Anthony James F. Almazan, RN, MAN and Jingky C. Lorenzo, RN
Grandparents’ Forum
In a heartwarming display of timeless love and dedication, the Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) Forum for Grandparents brought together grandparents from Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The event, held on October 8, 2025, at the Paoay Civic Center, was a collaborative effort among the Newborn Screening Center – Northern Luzon (NSC-NL) and the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC) Geriatric Center that highlighted the role of grandparents in safeguarding the health of their grandchildren affected with one of the disorders in the ENBS panel.
The ENBS Forum in Paoay emphasized intergenerational care. Presentations covered aging, oral health, and ENBS conditions. Grandparents actively joined discussions, sharing their experiences in supporting daily routines such as feeding, medication, and clinic visits.
Supplementary services included vaccination for older adults and guided physical exercises led by the MMMHMC clinicians. The event underscored the importance of partnering with elder caregivers in sustaining family health.
Region II Consultative Meeting
The Newborn Screening Continuity Clinic (NBSCC) Region II held a consultative meeting on October 24, 2025, at Southern Isabela Medical Center (SIMC) to strengthen long-term follow-up care for patients diagnosed through the Newborn Screening Program. In line with Executive Order No. 39, the hybrid gathering brought together representatives from NSRC, NSCNL, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, PHO Isabela, and SIMC to review current operations and identify issues, including delayed patient recall, gaps in coordination and limited access to specialists in remote areas. Stakeholders discussed unified strategies, including standardizing referral tools, assigning focal persons in Rural Health Units, and improving data-sharing to ensure timely and continuous care.
EO No. 39, Series of 2024, issued by Gov. Rodito T. Albano III of Isabela, mandates the institutionalization and expansion of the NBS Program across the province, emphasizing the need for coordinated action among government agencies, local health units, and private partners to guarantee every child’s right to a healthy start in life.
Participants also explored ways to expand teleconsultation services for conditions to better support families in geographically isolated communities.
