Oct. 5, 2007 – The Virgin Islands Department of Health newborn screening services are available for infants born between July 9, and Sept. 30, 2007, who were not screened prior to leaving district hospitals. The testing is being offered through the Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) and Children with Special Needs program for potential childhood diseases, according to MCH Director Patricia Penn.
Parents should bring their newborn book or nursery card to appointments at the following clinic:
St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday – Friday, Doctors Clinical Laboratory at V.I. Medical Foundation Building, behind the Schneider Regional Medical Center. For information, call 774-2760.
Clients from St. Thomas, St. John or Water Island seeking further information should call the MCH administrative offices at 777-8804, ext. 2709 or 2706.
Health Commissioner Vivian I. Ebbesen-Fludd said that clients who normally call in to 776-3580 on St. Thomas might experience problems as technicians are doing repairs to that line. Clients should use the 777-8804 number until further notice. Ebbesen-Fludd said she regrets the inconvenience that the change may cause.
