by Florence May O. Deaño, RN
Responding to the Rise in Hemoglobinopathies
The Expanded Newborn Screening (NBS) program in Western Visayas has led to a significant increase in the detection of congenital disorders, notably hemoglobinopathies—a group of genetic blood disorders that include thalassemia and sickle cell disease. While endocrine cases still hold the highest prevalence, the rise in hemoglobinopathy diagnoses since 2017 has necessitated a critical need for accessible and specialized long-term follow-up care for affected infants. To meet this growing demand, the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) and the Center for Human Genetics Services (CHGS)-Visayas launched a dedicated consultation workshop for over 50 health professionals in Iloilo City in September 2025.
Deepening Clinical Competency and Service Delivery
The workshop, held on September 18-19, 2025 at the Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City, gathered doctors, nurses, midwives, and nutritionist-dietitians to enhance their skills in managing these complex cases. Experts, including Dr. Joliza Patricia Cañeba from the Institute of Human Genetics and Dr. Ma-Am Joy Tumulak, a Genetic Counselor, provided essential lectures on the basic concepts of hemoglobinopathies, confirmatory test interpretation, and crucial genetic counseling techniques. Beyond theoretical knowledge, the teams engaged in practical activities, including workshops on results interpretation and counseling. The training culminated in actual patient consultations with seven confirmed NBS hemoglobinopathy cases, allowing long-term follow-up teams to gain invaluable, real-world experience under the guidance of leading specialists.
Strengthening Foundational Newborn Screening Services
Concurrent with the specialty training, the region also prioritized strengthening the foundational NBS services across all health facility levels. To ensure that all Filipino newborns receive proper screening and management, the DOH WV CHD, in collaboration with the Newborn Screening Center Visayas (NSCV), conducted a basic NBS training course from September 9-11, 2025 at the Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City. This intensive three-day program trained and certified 33 healthcare workers (HCWs). The course covered vital skills such as the proper filling of filter cards, identification of unsatisfactory samples, and administrative logistics, culminating in a practicum where the HCWs performed actual blood sample collection using the heel-prick method at sites like the Western Visayas Medical Center.
Ilonggos Convene in Celebration of Lives Saved through NBS
The DOH WV CHD, in collaboration with program partners, celebrated the annual “Reunion of Saved Babies” on October 23, 2025, at the Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City. The event gathered 150 Newborn Screening (NBS) advocates and celebrated the lives of Ilonggo children saved through NBS. It recognized the commitment of primary caregivers and health providers in ensuring quality, long-term follow-up care. The program featured interactive sessions on routine preventive oral care and the importance of genetic counseling, facilitated by experts, alongside focused group discussions for caregivers and health professionals. Furthermore, simultaneous free services were provided, including routine preventive oral care and specialized NBS consultations led by pediatric specialists from the Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics (NBSCCs) and Provincial NBS Satellite Clinics, ensuring comprehensive support and follow-up care for the NBS patients.
