PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo, says on October 21st 2015, a letter was sent by her to the president of Parliament requesting information from the Minister of Health on the inclusion of Neonatal Screening or Heel Prick Screening for babies born on Sint Maarten.
The meeting to discuss the draft Public Health Law was adjourned and still needs to be reconvened, however, Neonatal Screening was not included at that time as a preventative measure.
“Congratulations goes out to Saba and St. Eustatius who have introduced this preventative measure for all new-borns. It is imperative that Sint Maarten also follows suit.
“Neonatal Screening or Heel Prick Screening looks for developmental, endocrine, genetic, and metabolic disorders in new-born babies, and for those babies with the conditions, allow physicians to start treatment before some of the harmful effects happen or prevent or slow down the harmful effects of the disease.
This is done in many countries including the Netherlands and now the BES (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba) islands,” MP Marlin-Romeo concludes.
