Mandatory thyroid tests urged for newborn babies

Speakers at a seminar say the hospital delivering the child should be made responsible for the tests

ISLAMABAD: Medical experts have demanded that a law be passed for mandatory thyroid test for newborn babies. Speakers at the seminar held for creating awareness for the test said that the hospital delivering the child should be made responsible for these tests. The seminar was organised by ZB Foundation which was set up three years ago for the health of children. Dr Ali Raza, Akbar Raza Naqvi, Danielle Wilson Naqvi, Sabeel Chaudhry and other speakers said the foundation was providing free services for the heel-prick test which include collecting samples and providing results. They said that the system has been established in all the four provinces, Islamabad and AJK. The test helps diagnose 50 possible diseases in the babies. Initially the foundation is doing the thyroid test only. The thyroid can hamper the mental growth of the child and also it can cause early death in childhood.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2017.