Kosovo launches neonatal metabolic screening

For the first time in Kosovo, within a few days, neonatal metabolic screening will be performed at the Neonatology Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, which enables the early detection of genetic diseases in infants. Such a service is not yet performed in countries in the region.

According to the director of the Neonatology Clinic, Luan Morina, neonatal metabolic scanning is the greatest achievement in preventive medicine, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

He indicates that the laboratory, modern equipment, and space are ready to implement this project, while emphasizing that the health staff has also been trained to implement this service.

"As another project that we are already in the final phase and it is only a matter of days and we can say with great pride, we can thank the Ministry of Health, SHSKUK, QKUK for having made the neonatal metabolic screening possible. Which is being done for the first time in our country and we can say that this is not done in neighboring countries, so it is not done in the region. Neonatal metabolic screening has to do with the early diagnosis of genetic diseases. Diseases that are not detected at birth, but at certain stages of life. With the tests that we will carry out, we will diagnose or make possible the detection of these children who will have predispositions at a certain time to manifest this disease. This neonatal screening will initially start with five diseases: phenylketonuria, galactosemia, cystic fibrosis, congenital hypothyroidism and spinal muscular atrophy. Neonatal screening can be called the greatest achievement of preventive medicine.", emphasizes Morina.

Morina mentions neonatal transport, which involves transferring babies from regional hospitals to the Neonatology Clinic who need intensive treatment.

Neonatologist Luan Morina, in an interview with KosovaPress, says that the treatment of premature babies remains a challenge for this clinic. But he adds that thanks to the work and professionalism of the staff, it has been possible for even babies born weighing 700 grams to survive.

"The Neonatology Clinic offers numerous services, starting from the treatment of prematurity, which remains a challenge for Neonatology. When we talk about prematurity, we mean babies born prematurely, babies whose pregnancy is terminated before the 37th week. We have cases where we have deep prematurity. Starting from 24-25 weeks, but which is the deepest prematurity or the most difficult stage, where babies are born with a small weight of 500/600 grams... Thanks to the work, success and constant training of the staff and the professionalism of the staff of our clinic, we have good results and have managed to have babies weighing 700/800 grams survive.", said Morina, writes KosovaPress.

Meanwhile, the director of Neonatology at UCCK, Luan Morina, emphasizes that the priority for this clinic remains the commitment to reducing infant mortality.

"If we compare it with neonatology 15 years ago or even more, when we had a mortality rate of 30 per mil, which we can say was a very high figure. Now, thanks to the commitment of the staff, we have a much lower number. We have a decreasing mortality rate, we have less than 14 per mil. However, even this figure would be better, if we did not have a growing phenomenon such as prematurity as I mentioned, the profound one. Where normally a baby who is born prematurely at 24-25 weeks is a little more difficult, has less chance of doing well and surviving. These babies increased our mortality rate", emphasizes Morina.

He indicates that currently over 80 babies are being treated at the Neonatology Clinic, with 9 of them on respirators.

"In the Neonatology Clinic, we currently have 83 babies who are receiving treatment in our clinic. Of these, we have 9 babies who are on mechanical ventilation or respirators, babies who are intubated and are on a breathing machine... Of these, we have 10 babies on CPAP, who also need respiratory support. While of these babies, 16 are admissions from abroad, or are babies who have been referred from regional and private hospitals", Morina says, writes KosovaPress.

Among other things, Morina indicates that this clinic operates with 30 specialist doctors, while adding that the goal remains to increase the number of middle-level staff.

He says that the spaces are sufficient and that they are well supplied with essential medicines.

The Neonatology Clinic is the only tertiary service at the level of the Republic of Kosovo, which provides health services to all infants. In addition to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at UCCK, Neonatology also provides treatment for infants born in regional and private hospitals.