PGI to protect newborns against three diseases

LUCKNOW: The research department of biotechnology, Government of India, has started a project aimed at creating awakening among rural women to save newly born from diseases responsible for mental retardation. This scheme is being run in the Lucknow district with the assistance of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) and CSM Medical University, Lucknow.The SGPGI has been running a project of screening all newborns for three diseases -- Congenital Hypothyrodisim, Galactosemia and Biotinidase Deficiency -- by collecting three drops of blood by heal prick.
“These are diseases, which if diagnosed early, can be treated and mental retardation can be prevented,” says Dr Shubha Phadke of medical genetics department, adding “the children can become victims of permanent mental retardation if the treatment of these diseases is not started within two or three months from the date of their birth.”
Children suffering from Galactosemia suffer from glucose because they are unable to digest milk. The samples are collected from hospitals like CSSMU, Awantibai, Jhalkaribai hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, BCM Hospital, Khairabad and District Hospital, Barabanki.
Till date more than 7,000 samples have been collected and tested over the last 5 months.