WHO advocates for expanded newborn screening to reduce disabilities and save lives

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on nations worldwide to bolster their newborn screening programs, emphasizing that early detection and treatment of birth defects are crucial for saving lives and preventing lifelong disabilities. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted this imperative while presenting a new report on newborn screening.

The report underscores that birth defects are a significant cause of mortality among young children, accounting for almost 8% of all deaths in children under five. Alarmingly, over 90% of children born with serious birth defects reside in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, an estimated eight million babies are born with birth defects annually, yet access to timely screening and treatment remains limited in many regions, despite strong evidence of improved outcomes with early intervention.

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Birth defects now account for almost 8 per cent of all deaths among children under five. More than 90 per cent of children born with serious birth defects live in low- and middle-income countries.

"No child should miss the chance for a healthy future because a congenital condition was not detected early enough," Ghebreyesus stated, stressing the need to strengthen national screening systems. The WHO chief pointed out that treatable conditions like congenital hypothyroidism, sickle-cell disease, and hearing impairments can be managed effectively if identified promptly through screening.

Ghebreyesus also drew attention to the stark global disparities in screening coverage. While some nations screen for over 50 conditions, others lack any newborn screening programs. He advised countries to prioritize conditions based on their national disease burden and gradually expand their programs as capacity grows. The report indicates a rising proportion of under-five deaths attributed to birth defects in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, partly due to progress in reducing deaths from infectious diseases. The WHO advocates for integrating newborn screening into routine healthcare and universal health coverage systems, citing examples of successful large-scale programs in countries like Argentina, Brazil, and India.

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No child should miss the chance for a healthy future because a congenital condition was not detected early enough.