Hanoi, Paris join hands in improving pre-birth, newborn screening

The deal also focuses on the upgrading of the Centre for Pre-birth and Newborn Screening of the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology by providing the facility with support in personnel training and modern equipment. 

The centre, set up in 2013 and became operational in February 2014, has served 5,000 people every year. This is the only facility in Vietnam that provides the service. Its genetic screening technology has helped increase the success of in vitro fertilisation ratio from 35% to 60%.

Meanwhile, it has provided hearing checks for about 35,000 cases each year, and provided tests of five types of metabolic disorder for nearly 36,000 cases each year. 

However, more investment in equipment and in-depth professional training is necessary in order to improve the capacity and quality of the centre. 

In the coming time, the centre and Hanoi People’s Committee will increase communications to help all locals to access the service.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 8 million children worldwide are born with a disorder every year, accounting for 1.73%. As many as 95% of those disorders can be healed with timely intervention.