Saudi Health Runs General Survey of Newborns in Search of Genetic Diseases

Riyadh
Saudi Health keeps implementing the National Newborn Screening Program to eradicate disability and early diagnose any genetic diseases to avoid acute complications such as physical or mental disability, failure to thrive, and early decease. These complications could lay a burden socially and mentally on the child’s parents; limiting such a situation is what the program is looking to achieve.

The program aims to examine newborns during the 24- or 72-hours after birth to detect certain diseases to give early diagnosis and provide the needed healthcare at that stage to avoid complications. The main goal behind this program is to decrease the rates of genetic diseases, disabilities, and fatalities.

Also, the program is looking to expand the coverage of examinations to be included in every Saudi hospital, raise awareness, and create a database of genetically transmitted diseases, and constant improvement.