BHOPAL: A facility for screening hemoglobinopathies in newborns was inaugurated at AIIMS Bhopal here on Saturday. It is to be noted that Madhya Pradesh has a high prevelance of sickle cell disorders, thalasemias and other hemoglobinopathies.
The facility, which comes under under the department of pediatrics, is supported by National Health Mission (NHM). Importance of genetic counselling and screening of high risk population is stressed. Patient information brochure for advocacy and awareness about newborn screening was also released during the event.
Newborn screening (NBS) is a simple test which requires only 2-3 drops of blood to be collected by a heelprick from newborns on day two or three of birth. Such facility will help ease the burden of one similar existing in Bhopal’s Gandhi Medical College.
Dr Seema Kapoor, director professor of genetics at Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College, delivered a guest lecture stressing the need for universal newborn screening and increasing awareness about NBS amongst healthcare professionals and the community. Also present on the occasion were representatives from AIIMS Bhopal and NHM.
The facility will help in early diagnosis of these disorders in the newborn period, and early initiation of treatment helps to prevent the long term complications and improve the quality of life of these patients. It will also help to provide opportunities for prenatal diagnosis in subsequent pregnancies, according to a press release.
Dr Bhavna Dhingra, nodal officer of the programme, informed that it is proposed to include screening for metabolic disorders as well in the near future and to scaleup the programme to cover the entire state in a phased manner.
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