ISN Medical unveils newborn screening campaign to curb birth defects

A medical diagnostics company, ISN Medical, has launched a campaign to screen one million newborns in Nigeria for congenital and inherited conditions from 2026 to 2030, aimed at improving early detection, diagnosis, intervention, treatment and child health outcomes in Nigeria and Africa at large.

The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Friday in partnership with global healthcare innovation company Revvity, seeks to expand access to advanced newborn screening technologies, strengthen local healthcare capacity and improve diagnostic services across Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of ISN Medical, Felix Ofungwu, described the initiative as a milestone in the company’s commitment to transforming healthcare delivery through innovation, accessibility and improved diagnostics.

In a statement sent to PUNCH Healthwise, Ofungwu said the programme was designed to improve the early detection of congenital and inherited conditions, enabling timely interventions that could significantly improve health outcomes for newborns.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to improving child health outcomes across Nigeria. The One Million Newborn Screening Initiative is a landmark programme aimed at advancing the early detection of congenital and inherited conditions, enabling timely intervention, and ultimately improving the lives of newborns and their families,” Ofungwu said.

The ISN Medical CEO stated that the screening campaign will run from 2026 to 2030.

He noted that newborn screening is an opportunity to improve child survival, stating that while many congenital conditions can be effectively managed when detected early, newborn screening remains largely unavailable or inaccessible in many parts of Africa, leading to delayed diagnosis and missed opportunities for treatment.

Citing a recent report by the World Health Organisation titled “Strengthening Capacity for Newborn Screening, Diagnosis and Management of Birth Defects,” Ofungwu emphasised the need to scale up newborn screening programmes globally.

He said, “In many developed countries, newborn screening is a standard practice that enables the early detection of serious but treatable conditions shortly after birth. Early diagnosis allows healthcare providers to intervene promptly, preventing complications, reducing healthcare costs, and improving long-term health outcomes for children and their families.

“Today is therefore more than the launch of a programme. It is the beginning of a collective effort to ensure that every newborn in Nigeria has the opportunity for a healthier future through early diagnosis and timely intervention.”

The ISN Medical boss further noted that the partnership with Revvity would help introduce advanced newborn screening capabilities, expand access to testing, build local expertise and support healthcare facilities in delivering improved diagnostic services.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving maternal and child health through strategic partnerships and evidence-based interventions.

Represented by the Director and Head of the Child Health Division, Dr Amina Mohammed, the minister described the campaign as “timely and firmly grounded in evidence” and aligned with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Health Sector Reform Agenda.

She said the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s evidence base, improve child survival indicators, enhance health information systems and support data-driven decision-making.

Mohammed disclosed that the ministry inaugurated a Newborn Adaptation Subcommittee in 2023 to identify priority conditions for nationwide newborn screening and announced that work on the national framework would resume following the release of the WHO’s new guidance on newborn screening.

She added that “very soon, the national launch will be happening. This initiative is timely, and firmly grounded in evidence, fully aligned with the Federal Minister of Health and Social Welfare’s Health Sector Reform Agenda. The data and outcomes generated through newborn screening will strengthen Nigeria’s evidence base and directly support the implementation of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which is our policy trust, by improving child survival indicators, strengthening health information systems, and promoting data-driven decisions.”

Also speaking, a World Health Organisation scientist, Ayesha De Costa, stressed the need for countries to adopt and expand newborn screening programmes, describing them as critical to preventing avoidable deaths and disabilities among children.

“Saving children’s lives is newborn screening. That is screening all newborns through examinations or tests to detect early conditions that children may be born with and ensure access to diagnostic and management pathways,” she said during a virtual address.

De Costa noted that countries should prioritise screening for conditions based on their health needs and available resources, adding that effective newborn screening systems could be established even in resource-limited settings.

The Director of Newborn Screening at Revvity, Maria Kase, said the company was committed to supporting Nigeria’s target of screening one million newborns by 2030.

Describing newborn screening as one of the most effective public health interventions, she noted that sickle cell disease and other congenital disorders continue to claim thousands of young lives across sub-Saharan Africa.

“The journey to screen one million Nigerian babies by 2030 is a testament to what becomes possible when governments, health organisations and industry partners unite around a shared goal.

“Together, we are not just running screening programmes. We are giving families answers, giving children futures and giving communities hope,” Kase said.