WHO advocates for expanded newborn screening to reduce disabilities and improve child survival

The World Health Organization WHO is urging countries globally to enhance newborn screening programs, emphasizing that early detection and treatment of birth defects can save lives and reduce lifelong disabilities. WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, presented a new report highlighting newborn screening as crucial for improving child survival and health outcomes. The report indicates that birth defects now account for nearly 8% of all deaths among children under five, with over 90% of affected children residing in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately eight million babies are born with birth defects annually worldwide. Dr. Ghebreyesus noted that access to screening and treatment is limited in many countries, despite evidence that early detection significantly improves outcomes for conditions like congenital hypothyroidism, sickle-cell disease, and hearing impairment. He highlighted global disparities in screening coverage, with some countries screening for over 50 conditions while others lack any programs. The report also shows that the proportion of under-five deaths due to birth defects increased from 1% to 4% in sub-Saharan Africa and from 3% to 11% in South Asia between 2000 and 2023. The WHO chief called on governments to integrate newborn screening into routine healthcare and universal health coverage systems, citing examples from Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Uganda that have expanded screening coverage.