CALL TO ARMS SPEECH by LEADER DR. MA. LOURDES G. LAGUNILLA

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Lagunilla <dr_lagunilla@yahoo.com>
Date: August 4, 2015 at 8:23:20 PM GMT+8
To: Jorge <profjorge.entrep.clark@blogger.com>
Subject: CALL TO ARMS SPEECH by LEADER DR. MA. LOURDES G. LAGUNILLA

My advocacy is to prevent disabilities or complications in children using screening test for metabolic diseases, hearing and vision screening.


As Pediatricians we are in charge of the infant from the time of birth whenever given the opportunity to attend their delivery.
My advocacy is to prevent disabilities or complications in children using screening test for metabolic diseases, hearing and vision screening.

The first cry of the baby signifies life which must be sustained.     Every second counts. I must be able to intervene for signs that threatens the life of this innocent baby.... whenever  the baby is not breathing , whenever the baby is ... not crying.   

We  take good care not only any physical deformity or future complications but also do preventive measures for some diseases which may not be symptomatic immediately at birth.  My advocacy is to prevent disabilities or complications in children using screening test for metabolic diseases, hearing and vision screening.
Initial data from 201 participating hospitals for NEWBORN SCREENING ( NBS ) reported in September 2001 confirmed 48 cases of congenital hypothyroidism, 21 cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 2 cases of galactosemia, 4 cases of phenylketonuria and 1,495 cases of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. These metabolic diseases bring mental retardation or death if not diagnosed and treated soonest.  The Department of Health has recognized the significance of the initial data and efforts were undertaken to ensure the nationwide implementation of newborn screening.  I am very priveleged to be a part of the successful Newborn screening which started in 1996 which eventually gave birth to the Newborn screening  in Central Luzon.The NBS project continued through the years until the Senate passed Republic Act No. 9288   the COMPREHENSIVE POLICY and a NATIONAL SYSTEM FOR ENSURING NEWBORN SCREENING  in April 07, 2004 .  This  institutionalized the National Newborn screening system that ensures that every baby born in the Philippines is offered the opportunity to undergo newborn screening.  NBS saves 34,000 babies a year from mental retardation and death.  This is more than enough reason to screen babies.

We should take upon ourselves the initiative as a concerned citizen and pediatrician to adapt screening procedures even before needed legislation are passed.
The prevalence/ incidence of deafness in the Philippines is 2-3 per 1000 .  Hearing screen would assist in learning if the baby has congenital hearing loss that may be caused by maternal diseases or genetics.  Recognizing the impact of hearing loss, I took the initiative and instituted hearing screening at AUFMC .  I brought the Oto Acoustic Emission OAE equipment for  screening in 2007.   It was only in  August 12, 2009  Republic Act No. 9709 , an  ACT establishing a UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM FOR THE PREVENTION, EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTION OF HEARING LOSS was passed.
One out of ten school age children would have eye problems, 25% of which would have amblyopia while the rest mainly have Errors of Refraction (EOR). Based on the National Survey of Blindness 2004 and PERI-DOH  Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI)  Department of Health Vision Screening Preliminary Data 2014, the prevalence of amblyopia is from 1-3%, while EOR ranges from 3-15%.   This bring concerns  to my practice in caring for children.  An  ACT establishing a COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON AMBLYOPIA  and requiring  the mandatory  inclusion of visual screening on amblyopia in the NATIONAL NEWBORN SCREENING COVERAGE, amending for the purpose REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9288, otherwise known as the NEWBORN SCREENING ACT OF 2004"  and for other purposes  was sponsored by Senator Lapid .  This ACT  was titled as the "MAINSTREAMING AMBLYOPIA ACT of 2009."   To this date there are no implementing guidelines yet.
Again the  private sector must take efforts to initiate steps for the welfare of patients.  It takes a longer time before very important legislation are implemented nationwide.

In October 2014, with the cooperation and collaboration of my partner in life and medical practice, Dr. Ferdinand Lagunilla, an EENT specialist and I  took  the opportunity for babies to have vision screening  we named  " BRIGHT EYES  BRIGHT FUTURE" project ..... because I care for the babies, I care for the children.... the future LEADERS of this nation.  
I call on concerned Pediatricians, Physicians, all Heath care givers, our government officials, parents and  teachers to give the same opportunity for every child as early as 6 months to prevent vision impairment.  Now is the time no other time for BRIGHT EYES, BRIGHT FUTURE.

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The taste of the pie is in the eating.  Let us listen to Leader Dra Daisy deliver this in the class