Newborn Screening and Treatment for Congenital Hypothyroidism, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Together with the National Referral Hospital (NRH) team in Honiara and A/Professor Shubha Srinivasan from the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Taking Paediatrics Abroad (TPA) is supporting the screening of newborns in Honiara for Congenital Hypothyroidism. This project aims for early detection and treatment to prevent disability.
Clinical guidelines for NRH maternity and pediatric staff will ensure proper testing treatment, and family support. Providing written information to families will support testing participation, appropriate treatment, and ongoing monitoring. This process includes obtaining parental consent for cord blood testing, assisting families needing additional testing, and supporting those with babies requiring ongoing treatment with thyroxine.
Undiagnosed neonatal hypothyroidism is a significant issue as it affects 1 in 2,000-4,000 babies worldwide, leading to disability and growth stunting but can be prevented with early, low-cost hormone treatment.
Professor Srinivasan, in collaboration with the NRH pediatric team and TPA, plans a 2-3 year project to detect and treat congenital hypothyroidism in Solomon Islands newborns, including building local testing capacity. The Community Development Grant will support developing guidelines for health professionals and providing parents with materials to understand the importance of ongoing treatment and monitoring.
To further enhance the impact of this initiative, the project will also focus on strengthening the local healthcare infrastructure by providing training workshops for NRH maternity and pediatric staff on the latest screening and treatment protocols. This will ensure that staff are well-equipped to conduct early screenings, interpret results accurately, and provide appropriate follow-up care. In addition, the project will integrate community awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism, encouraging families to actively participate in the screening process.
Through partnerships with local health organizations and continuous monitoring of the program’s effectiveness, the project aims to build sustainable healthcare practices that can be replicated across other regions of the Solomon Islands. Over time, this initiative will not only improve early detection and treatment rates for congenital hypothyroidism but will also contribute to the overall strengthening of pediatric healthcare in the region, ultimately preventing the long-term disabilities associated with this condition.
The success of this initiative will be measured by the number of newborns screened, the timely administration of thyroxine treatment, and the improvement in community knowledge about the condition and its prevention.