Region VI is home to at least 874 confirmed NBS cases, 12.13% of which are metabolic cases with disorders ranging from amino acid, fatty acid oxidation, organic acid, urea cycle defects and carbohydrate metabolism disorders. The basic management of these disorders includes nutrition therapy to maintain bodily functions.
From July 31-August 2, 2024, the Department of Health Western Visayas- Center for Health Development (DOH WV-CHD) in collaboration with the Center for Human Genetics Services (CHGS)-Visayas conducted the “Training on Inborn Errors of Metabolism for Long Term Follow-Up Clinics and Selected Tertiary Hospitals in WV” at the Punta Villa Resort, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
The three-day training aimed to capacitate healthcare workers in the clinical management of IEM cases. Likewise, it sought to improve the referral and management network to ensure that good quality of care is provided to children with special needs.
The lecture-discussions, action planning, and computation workshops during the training were spearheaded and facilitated by CHGS health personnel Dr. Barbra Charina Cavan- Geneticist, Jane Delfin- RN, Lawrence Sentillas-ND, and Maxine De Guzman-ND and NBSCC’s Dr. Kristin Grace Guerrero-Gonzalez-Geneticist, Dr. Suzanne Marie Carmona-Barrera-Geneticist, and Diana Pondevida-RN. Doctors, nurses, and nutritionist-dietitians from the provincial and city health offices, NBSCC, Provincial NBS Satellite Clinics, and selected tertiary hospitals in the Western Visayas participated in the said activity.
To establish a sustainable long-term follow-up and management system for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) patients in the region, close collaboration with the medical and allied health disciplines is essential. Referral points for more comprehensive and holistic care are identified with the NBSCCs and NBS satellite clinics as the central facilities that will link these referral points and cater to the needs of the metabolic patients.
FMODeaño
