UAE Introduces New Guidelines for Newborn Health Screenings

The newborns screening guidelines has been implemented in UAE to ensure that any such health issues that are likely to affect the quality of life are detected on time. Revealed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention on Friday, these serve as a part of the strategies included in the plan to improve the prospects of the newborns across the country.

The National Newborn Screening Guidelines are intended to help in early identification of inherited disorders, metabolic and endocrine. They also include hearing and heart tests, and other serious ABS. An important component of this process is the formation of an extensive database for the prevention and treatment of genetic diseases.

Underlining the significance of newborn health, Dr Hussain Al Rand, assistant undersecretary for the Public Health Sector declared, “It is more than very important to focus of newborn’s health, the newly launched national guideline is quite helpful to the health sector to upgrade the health of the coming generations, in addition, it will help for constructing data base of the genetic diseases and intends to spread awareness regarding newborn screen among the communities.

Implementation of guidelines will be across the government and private facilities in UAE. Although screenings for newborns were already required prior to this statement, the new measures will seek to manage and improve necessary procedures in addition to medical check-ups on neonates basing on the international standards.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention pointed out that the main objectives of the project focuses seeking, diagnosing and handling diseases that may pose a threat to the life of a newborn or put his/her life at risk. These activities are hoped to contribute to decreasing incidences of newborn morbidity and mortality and increasing the range of possibilities for treating them.

Minister Dr. Al Rand reaffirmed the same sentiments promising to push for prevention of diseases while putting in place sound healthcare systems that would help in the promotion of health enhancing activities among all age groups. Moreover, parents are to be educated and counseled on health promotion so that the child can have stellar health right from birth.