Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to expand newborn screening programs to improve early detection and management of birth defects. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for reducing child mortality and lifelong disabilities caused by congenital conditions.
According to WHO, about 8 million infants are born with birth defects each year. These defects are responsible for nearly 8% of all deaths among children under five. Most affected children—about 90%—live in low- and middle-income countries, where access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment remains limited.
WHO's report, Strengthening capacity for newborn screening, diagnosis and management of birth defects, highlights that many conditions, such as congenital hypothyroidism, sickle-cell disease, hearing impairment, and certain metabolic disorders, can be effectively treated if identified shortly after birth. The report notes that between 2000 and 2023, the proportion of under-five deaths caused by birth defects increased in some regions, including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, partly due to reductions in other causes of child mortality.
WHO calls on countries to begin newborn screening with conditions prioritized for their national context and to expand coverage as capacities grow. Examples include Argentina achieving near-universal screening, Brazil expanding nationwide screening for several serious conditions, Egypt integrating universal hearing and hypothyroidism screening into primary health care, and India's progress in newborn care.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that no child should miss the chance for a healthy future due to late or absent detection of congenital conditions and highlighted the lifesaving and disability-preventing impact of newborn screening programs.