Pushing the Demand for NBS Services amidst COVID-19 in Western Visayas

Grace P. Exmundo, R.N.

The shift in health priorities to proactively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has created disruptions in both the access and availability of newborn screening (NBS) services. Reports from CY 2020 showed a decrease in all major newborn screening indicators: NBS coverage, recall rate for confirmatory testing, and recall and compliance of confirmed cases to long-term follow-up and management.

With the continuous challenges, there is a drastic need to reintegrate the delivery of NBS services to the “new normal” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To address the said indicators, it is essential to generate demand for all NBS services in the context of COVID-19. As such, one main strategy that DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development in collaboration with the different health and non-health partners and stakeholders, was the adaptation and localization of NBS information, education, and communication materials (IECs) to address frequently asked questions for the NBS program and its services.

One of the developed IECs through JCI Regatta, a local civil society organization (CSO), is the adaptation of the expanded newborn screening brochure. The simplified version was transformed into a poster highlighting the FAQs on newborn screening and its panel of disorders.

Moreover, to bridge the gap between the client’s access to NBS information and management of selected disorders, IEC materials for G6PD Deficiency and Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) were developed.

The G6PD Deficiency flyer was adapted from the original IEC of UP-NIH, while the CH leaflet was developed from the generated FAQs during the several Reunion of Saved Babies conducted since 2016.

A compendium of best practices was produced for the general public through the DOH WV CHD website.

Reinforcing the reintegration of the NBS program warrants a need to generate demand, and activities supporting it are made available.

NSC Visayas Offers Online NBS Training Module

Meryll Mae T. Padillo, RN

The year 2020 has seen the most challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a year of uncertainty for the Newborn Screening Program in the Visayas Cluster which can be reached by air or water.

This translated to delays in delivery of dried blood specimens, as well as contamination of samples. On top of this, NBS coordinators from various facilities were deployed or assigned for COVID-19 response leaving alternate staff members who were either untrained or partially-trained in newborn screening.

To address the above challenges, the NSC Visayas identified the need for training of these personnel.

On January 4, 2021, the first batch of trainees was given access to pre-recorded video presentations of the Newborn Screening Online Orientation Series. This orientation series is divided into 5 parts, namely: Overview of the NBS Program; Becoming a Newborn Screening Facility; NSCV Administrative Mechanics; Performing Quality Newborn Screening; and Patient Recall.

The objective of the training is to ensure that the staff is equipped with the basic knowledge of roles and responsibilities.

A pre-test, post-test and post-evaluation assessments are required of the participants to secure a Certificate of Completion for each part of the series.

The NBS Online Orientation Series is currently catering to the third batch of participants as of this writing.