Parents now have a seamless way to establish lifelong, secure medical records for their children from birth. This is possible thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration. The partners in this collaboration are Ajuda, a personal digital health vault. They also include the National Metabolomics Platform (NMP) at North-West University’s Centre for Human Metabolomics.
Through this partnership, results from essential newborn screenings will be directly uploaded to parents’ Ajuda health vaults. This will form the foundation of a comprehensive health history. Newborn screening, a standard practice since the 1960s, is typically conducted within the first few days after birth. It involves a simple heel-prick blood test. This test detects up to 22 genetic and metabolic conditions. If these conditions are left undetected, they could lead to serious health complications.
Dr. Ilse Du Preez, Acting Director of the Centre for Human Metabolomics, emphasized the importance of early screening. She noted, “A simple and affordable test can make a big difference in your child’s life.” Just as routine vision and hearing checks are vital, so too is screening for genetic metabolic disorders. This partnership, Dr. Du Preez explained, not only aims to streamline newborn screening. It also enhances the security and accessibility of medical records. This provides parents with critical health information that will guide their child’s healthcare journey.
Ajuda’s health vault allows parents to store all health-related documents in one place. This ensures that crucial information remains accessible. It also stays intact over time. Co-founder Dr. Liza Street emphasized the need for early detection. She explained that many disorders are manageable. However, delays in diagnosis can result in irreversible harm. “Timely intervention can help ensure your child’s health and wellbeing,” she noted.
Beyond newborn screening, Ajuda’s platform will accommodate ongoing health assessments. It will also manage records. This enables parents to build a complete medical history for their child. Co-founder Taryn Uhlmann added, “We are here to be your digital friend, helping empower families with a lifelong record of their health.”