The Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO), in partnership with the Department of Health–Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) CALABARZON, and Trece Martires City Health Office (CHO), successfully conducted the Newborn Screening Caravan on June 24, 2026 at the General Emilio Aaguinaldo Memorial Hospital (GEAMH) and SM City Trece Martires to strengthen awareness and accessibility of newborn screening services for Caviteños.

The activity aimed to educate parents, caregivers, and healthcare workers on the importance of newborn screening in the early detection of congenital disorders that may not be immediately apparent at birth. Through timely diagnosis and intervention, affected infants can receive appropriate treatment to prevent severe health complications, intellectual disability, and even death.

One of the highlights of the caravan was the lecture on the Overview of the Newborn Screening Continuity Clinic, which emphasized the significance of continuous monitoring, confirmatory testing, medical management, and long-term follow-up for newborns with positive screening results.

Participants also learned about the crucial role of the Continuity Clinic in ensuring that infants diagnosed with metabolic and other inherited disorders receive the necessary care and support throughout their development.

Following the lecture, newborn screening specimen collection and other related health services were facilitated by healthcare professionals from the DOH-CHD CALABARZON, OPHO, and the Trece Martires CHO, making these essential services more accessible to families in Cavite.

The activity was graced by Trece Martires City Mayor Gemma Lubigan and Vice Mayor Bobby Montehermoso, who expressed their support for programs that promote maternal and child health and ensure that every newborn receives quality healthcare services from the very beginning of life.

The caravan forms part of the Department of Health’s continuing efforts to strengthen the implementation of the National Newborn Screening Program and expand the reach of Newborn Screening Continuity Clinics across the CALABARZON Region. The program underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Filipino newborn is given the opportunity to live a healthier and more productive life through early detection, prompt intervention, and sustained medical care. The June 24 caravan likewise complemented the free newborn screening initiative conducted in partnership with the GMA Kapuso Foundation, prioritizing newborns from Trece Martires City, General Trias City, and Tanza while remaining open to eligible infants from other areas in Cavite.

Initiatives such as the Newborn Screening Caravan reflect the Provincial Government of Cavite’s continued commitment, through the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, to promoting maternal and child health by bringing essential healthcare services closer to communities and ensuring that every newborn receives the best possible start in life. — OPIO