Progress on the National Neonatal Screening Laboratory at the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital
The Executive Director of the National Health Service (SNS), Dr. Julio Landrón, conducted a technical inspection together with the Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Estrella, to supervise the progress in the construction of the National Neonatal Screening Laboratory, located at the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital.
This infrastructure, whose construction had been paralyzed since 2015, was resumed under the current government administration with the goal of turning the country into a regional benchmark in the prevention and early diagnosis of congenital diseases.
A milestone for preventive health in the region
During the tour, Dr. Landrón emphasized the impact this center will have on public health, highlighting that the scope of this project places the Dominican Republic at the forefront compared to other countries in Central America and Latin America.
What is going to be done here is practically not done in the region with the scope that we are proposing. We are talking about screening, about being able to identify from the moment a baby is born certain conditions that can affect their health and acting in a timely manner.
Doctor Julio Landrón, executive director of the SNSThe head of the SNS stressed that this work responds to a State vision focused on preventive medicine, allowing for intervention before health complications manifest, thus protecting the well-being of Dominican families.
What does the newborn screening consist of?
Newborn screening is a fundamental test that allows for the detection of critical health conditions in newborns through a simple procedure. Key details of the program include:
- Procedure: Four to five drops of blood are extracted from the baby’s heel.
- Ideal time: The sample should preferably be taken between the third and seventh day after birth.
- Purpose: To identify conditions requiring immediate medical attention in a timely manner to ensure healthy development.
- Social impact: The information collected will be used to design public health policies focused on child and maternal protection.
For his part, the Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Estrella, reaffirmed the commitment to accelerate construction work so that the project can be inaugurated soon, providing the national health system with a specialized and vital tool for the early detection of pathologies in the child population.
