Minister Cornelius de Weever thanked Collective Prevention Services for the report of the feasibility for the introduction and sustained implementation of the heel prick screening for new born on St. Maarten.
Discussions on heel prick screening for St. Maarten have been going on for years but were intensified in 2012 after a presentation and discussion of a recent case of a child with a metabolic disorder that was born on St. Maarten where the family had to go to Holland for diagnosis. After reporting to the Minister, CPS was tasked to carry out a feasibility study on the introduction and sustained implementation of the heel prick screening on St. Maarten as foundation for a well informed decision.
For this study it was decided to partner with the RIVM; since the constitutional change Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba became special municipalities in the Dutch Kingdom making it necessary to introduce the heel prick on these Islands. Holland was already preparing for the study and the preliminary results showed that it was evident that St. Maarten played an important role. Many children from Saba and St. Eustasius are born on St. Maarten. Partnering with RIVM was the only logical move and the most cost effective solution to our feasibility study.
During a work visit from Dr. Asin, Head CPS, to the RIVM and the GGD in 2013, the initial contours for collaboration where discussed, steps to come to a formal collaboration agreement where mapped out and contact persons were identified to work as a special Dutch Caribbean Heel Prick Screening Committee.
The two Ministers of Health, Minister de Weever, Minins St. Maarten and Minister Schippers, Minister VWS Holland, secured this collaboration with their signatures.
Dr Josien van Wijk, Youth Health Care Physician and Acting Section Head Youth Health Care of Collective Prevention Services, was the representative of CPS in this committee. The strategic approach was that while the RIVM was carrying out the feasibility study for these three islands, CPS at the same time worked on the feasibility study of Sint Maarten.
The purpose of the neonatal heel prick screening is to detect diseases in which intervention shortly after birth has obvious advantages over interventions that without screening cannot take place or only at a later stage. Interventions include treatments such as giving a drug or a diet, but also preventive measures such as avoiding fasting in certain disorders of fatty acid metabolism. The test is offered shortly after birth, within 3 to 8 days. A small sample of blood is taken from the baby’s heel and screened for a certain amount of specific conditions. CPS is proposing to screen for 18 specific conditions, including sickle cell anemia and congenital hypothyroid disease. In the event of a positive result, prompt treatment can prevent or mitigate any adverse effect on the child’s further physical and mental development. The objective of the Neonatal Heel Prick Screening (NHS) is to screen the newborn for serious congenital disorders. Since the tests are reliable, and treatment is possible, it is believed that early diagnosis and treatment will provide better health for the child.
Dr Asin stated that she was proud to present to the Minister the report on the feasibility study for the introduction of the heel prick. She thanked Dr Josien for the diligent work she put in contributing to the study and the writing of the document. Special thanks was also expressed towards all the stakeholders that made this report possible, the colleagues from the RIVM in the Netherlands, the colleagues on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, the department CPS, the pediatricians dr. Offringa and dr. Tilanus and the SLS lab.
Minister de Weever thanked CPS for the study and will inform about the decision.
