The Department of Health in the Ilocos Region (DOH-1) has significantly upgraded its health services by distributing 10 newborn hearing screening units across various health facilities, including DOH hospitals, provincial and district health facilities, and rural health units (RHUs). These units, valued at over PHP1 million, aim to facilitate early detection and intervention for hearing loss in newborns, as announced by DOH Ilocos Region Director Paula Paz Sydiongco.
The screening units will enable health facilities to assess infants for hearing impairments and refer them to specialized centers for further evaluation and treatment. The region boasts two such reference centers: the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Batac City and the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City. Nicole Marie Bugarin, the regional coordinator for Newborn Screening, emphasized the critical nature of early detection, noting that hearing loss in newborns often goes unnoticed without screening.
The newborn hearing screening, which should be conducted within the first 28 days of life, is part of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Newborn Care Package. The screening uses Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) units to check the inner ear’s response to sound. Staff at the recipient facilities have been trained to operate these units effectively, having completed a certification course provided by the Newborn Hearing Screening Reference Center (NHSRC), which supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 9709.
In addition to the newborn screening initiative, DOH-1 has also distributed 25 sets of Barangay Health Services (BHS) packages to RHUs in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. These packages, funded through the 2024 Health Facility Enhancement Program, are designed to enhance the capabilities of rural health units to deliver superior healthcare services at the community level. The packages include essential medical equipment such as dressing carts, surgical sets, mechanical beds, and diagnostic tools.
Director Sydiongco highlighted the importance of strengthening rural health units, which serve as the primary point of care in communities. The distribution of these resources began last week, marking a significant step forward in improving healthcare accessibility and quality in the Ilocos Region.