LAWMAKERS are pushing to have a mandated law to conduct a compulsory ocular prophylaxis after a baby’s birth to prevent blindness among newborns.
House Bill 4075, which was approved on final reading by the House of Representatives on February 2011 and was transmitted to the Senate the same year could avert the number of cases of blindness in Filipino children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1.5 million children worldwide are blind, two-thirds, or 1 million of which are in Asia. The leading etiology is corneal opacification caused by measles, xerophthalmia, and use of traditional eye medicine.
Rep. Philip Pichay (1st District, Surigao del Sur), the author of the bill said that about 50% of cases of blindness in Filipino children are treatable or preventable.
“The main culprits are poor nutrition, like Vitamin A deficiency as the primary reason, measles, premature birth and another growing concern is ophthalmic infection in the neonatal period, most of which are acquired during vaginal delivery,” Pichay said.
The bill seeks to put the government’s imprimatur to preventive measure by making ocular prophylaxis to newborns mandatory.
“Although giving the parents, specially the mother, the right to refuse, it is nonetheless anticipated that once approved, the bill would inculcate in the people the serious need for such application,” Pichay said.
Under the measure, the healthcare practitioner who delivers or assist in the delivery of a newborn shall inform the parents or legal guardian, prior to delivery, the nature and benefits of ocular prophylaxis.
The proposed Act mandates a healthcare practitioner who attends or assist in the birth of a child, to instill in each eye of the newborn, as soon as possible, 1% tetracycline ophthalmic ointment or 0.5% erythromycin ophthalmic ointment or 1% silver nitrate aqueous solution, all in a single application, or some other equally effective prophylactic for the prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum, approved by the Department of Health.
Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Party List, Bagong Henerasyon) and Chairperson of House Committee on Health, Alfredo Maranon III (2nd district, Negros Occidental), co-authors of the measure said parents may refuse the application of ocular prophylaxis in writing which will be made part of the newborn’s medical record.
Further, all health institutions shall post and keep posted in conspicuous places in their institution, copies of the Act, and instruct persons professionally employed in such institutions and places regarding their duties, and to maintain records of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum in the manner and form prescribed by the Health Department.
The Local Health Officer shall investigate each case of ophthalmia neonatorum, reported and shall be reported to the DOH.
The DOH shall enforce the provisions of this Act, provide printing, publication and distribution to all health institutions and healthcare practitioners, advice and information on the proper use of scientific prophylactic for ophthalmia neonatorum, the necessity for the prompt and effective treatment together with copies of this Act.
The DOH shall report any violations of this Act to the Office of the Prosecutor of the province where said violations are committed.
Aside from imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than one year, violators-medical practitioners may also be suspended for 30 days to one year and be fined from P10,000 to P50,000.