Team Herald
BAMBOLIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday re-launched the newborn screening programme under which babies born at government-run hospitals will be screened for up to 50 metabolic disorders.
The scheme was launched under the Central government’s National Health Mission. Goa was the first State to start screening newborn babies in 2008 but it was later discontinued in 2012.
Addressing the media, Rane said, “Newborn baby screening is our flagship programme and we will see that we run it properly. This is an important programme and this will benefit newborn babies. Quality health care was very important and Goa was the first State to initiate the programme.”
He said, “There were a number of inborn errors of metabolism that babies could be born with but could be completely cured if diagnosed immediately after the birth. This programme would be extremely beneficial to the people. I urge the people to avail of the benefits of the programme for the wellbeing of the newborn child.”
He added that the screening programme will be available at all government hospitals where there are deliveries taking place and urged people to avail of the facility even if the baby is born in a private hospital.
“It is a very important programme. At present I cannot make it mandatory for private hospitals but if they want to get their child checked then they can always come here and get their babies checked. We are open to it. There are close to 11,000 institutional deliveries taking places across government hospitals in the State,” he added.
The minister further said that a new fleet of bike ambulances will be launched on August 14, a diabetic care programme in September and later a liver screening programme will also be started.
