Let's gear up for #NBSWeek2015!

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Newborn Screening Reference Center

The implementation of expanded newborn screening in December 2014 provided opportunity for identification of more babies with life-threatening inherited conditions and timely initiation of appropriate management and care. This early diagnosis and management impact greatly on helping these affected babies live healthier lives.

There is no doubt that the active participation, support and dedication of our program partners will make the vision of saving all babies from mental retardation and death a genuine victory.

We have achieved a lot since the inception of the program in 1996. Let our efforts not end here as there will always be better ways to improve the newborn health care system of the country. Let us work together and share more celebrations of saved lives!

In this year’s celebration of the Newborn Screening Awareness Week, help us in our efforts to let the general public know about the benefits of newborn screening for the newborns and their families from October 1-7, 2015.

Help spread the word about this celebration either through the 15sec and 30sec radio commercials for your local radio stations or online by sharing the links to our brochures and posters so your health facilities can print them.

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The NBS Playlist: Watch. Share. Celebrate #NBSWeek2015

Health Promotion and Advocacy Update

We searched the web for videos about newborn screening. In addition to videos from our Youtube channel (vylhphilippines), we looked for uploaded videos from various news and current affairs programs. These videos are useful to all soon-to-be-parents and newborn screening advocates. 

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VYLH-Philippines Central Visayas welcomes Batch Hiraya

Written by John Paul Oira and Floyd Edrea
Newborn Screening 
May-June 2015 Issue

Reigniting the spirit of youth volunteerism in Central Visayas, the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VYLH)–Philippines, in collaboration with the Department of Health–Regional Office (DOH-RO) 7 and Newborn Screening Center (NSC)–Visayas, organized this year’s regional youth camp to increase awareness on health issues among the youth and to mobilize youth leaders in the region toward health advocacy work.

This year’s newest breed of volunteers took the name Hiraya, from the Filipino word for “vision,” giving emphasis on the theme “Revolutionizing Health Promotion through Youth Participation.” This was the first time for VYLH to adopt a single Filipino word to name their batch. This was also the first time VYLH opened its doors to public applicants, adding to those who were selected by schools or organizations. A total of 20 applicants were accepted into the camp.

The first batch of Hiraya volunteers were inducted at the VYLH-Philippines Central Visayas Regional Camp in Boljoon, Cebu, on May 22-24, 2015. Students and young professionals from Siquijor, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Bohol, as well as new volunteers from Tacloban City, comprise the 53-member strong batch.

Participants were greeted by camp facilitators at the Cebu Club Fort Med Resort. The camp officially opened on May 22 with GTKY (Getting-to-know-you) activities, camp introduction, messages from regional partners, and a video message from VYLH National Adviser Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla.

Dr. Emmelie Pfleider-Silao, NBS Medical Coordinator, through NBS Nurse Coordinator Mr. Ruff Vincent Valdevieso, presented the Department of Health Programs and DOH-RO 7 Updates on Newborn Screening—one of the three major advocacies of VYLH. It was followed by an orientation on the National Newborn Screening Program by Ms. Yugie Caroline Demegillo, NSC-Visayas Program Manager. Anna Leah Millares, NSC-Visayas ENBS Nurse, presented the Expanded Newborn Screening Program. 

A Social Night and Talent Expo was held in the evening to facilitate campers get acquainted with one another. Spicing up the night was an on-the-spot Mr. and Ms. Social Night, with Zecariah Chito Jumawan and Khem Alvarez as camp heartthrobs.

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