Over 6 Million Children Benefit From China's Neonatal Screening Programs

More than 6 million Chinese children in poverty-ridden areas have benefited from neonatal screening programs, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Sep, 2018 ) :More than 6 million Chinese children in poverty-ridden areas have benefited from neonatal screening programs, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

It is estimated that 5.6 percent of newborns have birth defects in China. Data from the China Disabled Persons' Federation suggests that about 900,000 babies are born with birth defects every year.

"Birth defects have become the most difficult challenge to resolve through healthcare in poverty reduction efforts," said Zeng Yixin, vice director of the National Health Commission.

The cases where people fall into poverty or fall back to poverty because of catching diseases remained high for many years, Zeng said.

The commission has provided free services such as pre-pregnancy health checks, nutritional information and neonatal screening in impoverished areas.