 THE ROTARY CLUB OF ANTIPOLO CENTRO
Charter Date : 18 December 1995
R.I. DISTRICT 3800
Project : One Foot at a Time
Project: One foot at a Time is a campaign for the importance of Newborn Screening Program in Antipolo City. It is the very first endeavor that the Rotary Club of Antipolo Centro will be taking under the leadership of RCAC President, Elmer P. Baltazar.
The project was conceptualized as it was inspired by the Rotary International and District 3800 thrust to save the lives of our children specially the newborn.
This project will not only undertake the actual newborn screening testing. It will also cover the awareness of this project through seminars to our parents and educators, in order to give emphasis on the importance of this project to our community and to the lives of our young.
Promoting and implementing this project will be giving our children a chance to lead a better life and become productive citizens of our country.
The objective of this project is to ensure that every newborn has access to newborn screening for certain heritable conditions that can result in mental retardation, serious health complications or death if left undetected and untreated.
The following are the disorders that will be screened:
• Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD deficiency) is a disorder in which babies lack the enzyme G6PD. Babies usually manifest anemia, yellowish discoloration of skin especially when they are exposed to certain foods like Soya-rich food, and some drugs like the sulfas.
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a disorder that leads to severe salt wasting, dehydration and unusually high levels of male sex hormones. If left untreated, babies eventually die.
• Congenital Hypothyroidism results from deficient or absence of thyroid hormone, which is important for mental and physical development. If left untreated, babies develop severe brain insult and eventually mental retardation.
• Galactosemia is a disorder in which babies are unable to process galactose. Excessive amounts in the body could lead to brain and liver insults.
Phenylketonuria is a very rare disorder in which the infant cannot properly use an amino acid, phenylalanine. Excess of this amino acid leads to mental retardation.
What is newborn genetic screening?
Newborn genetic screening is a health program that identifies treatable genetic disorders in newborn infants. Early intervention to treat these disorders can eliminate or reduce symptoms that might otherwise cause a lifetime of disability.
Who performs newborn screening?
Newborn genetic screening programs are conducted worldwide. In other cities in Metro Manila, newborn screening programs are developed and run by the different cities and municipalities.
Who is screened?
In most cases, newborn infants are should automatically be screened in the hospital shortly after delivery.
Who will pay for the screening?
The Rotary Club of Antipolo Centro and its partner will shoulder the expenses for the newborn screening tests of each newborn child. The cost of the test is $25.00 or P1,125.00 (Philippine Currency).
Target Location:
1 or 2 baranggays in Antipolo City will be beneficiary of this projects, at least 200 – 500 newborn will be tested. | 
