On October 25, in Nanning, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Commission held a press conference to share significant strides in maternal and child health. According to the commission, the region aims to improve birth quality by focusing on comprehensive prevention and control of birth defects, particularly thalassemia. A series of beneficial projects have been implemented, including free premarital medical examinations, newborn screenings for genetic metabolic diseases, hearing tests, and congenital heart disease screenings.
At the conference, it was revealed that Guangxi has made notable progress in women’s and children’s health, consistently expanding comprehensive reproductive services. The health level of women and children in the region has continued to improve. Currently, there are 106 maternal and child health hospitals in Guangxi, 70 of which are above a certain medical standard.
In 2023, the maternal mortality rate dropped to 8.97 per 100,000, while the infant mortality rate fell to 2.38‰, and the mortality rate for children under five decreased to 3.82‰. These core indicators of maternal and child health remain significantly below the national average, marking the lowest levels in history. Key initiatives aimed at preventing cervical and breast cancer among women, combating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, along with child health care and birth defect prevention have yielded positive outcomes.
Chen Chi, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Guangxi Health Commission, emphasized the region’s commitment to effectively addressing birth defects. Guangxi has established 101 one-stop comprehensive marriage and childbearing service platforms, which focus on crucial stages of prevention and control for birth defects, including premarital, preconception, prenatal, and newborn periods.
Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Guangxi has provided free premarital medical checks for 1.4728 million individuals, conducted preconception health assessments and guidance for 537,200 couples planning to conceive, and offered free folic acid supplements to 2.5024 million women preparing for pregnancy. Additionally, financial support for screening has been provided to 1.3475 million pregnant women, while nearly 1.52 million newborns have undergone genetic metabolic disease screenings, hearing tests, and congenital heart disease evaluations.
Moreover, Guangxi has intensified its efforts in thalassemia prevention by providing three free services: routine initial screening, genetic diagnosis, and prenatal diagnosis for thalassemia. The scope of these benefits has been expanded to include free hemoglobin analysis and interventions for severe thalassemia cases, altogether ensuring comprehensive free services in the region. Remarkably, the birth rate of severe thalassemia-affected children has remained below 0.3 per ten thousand for five consecutive years, effectively curtailing severe, life-threatening birth defects.
While reducing the occurrence of severe thalassemia among newborns, Guangxi is also enhancing treatment and support for existing patients. The region employs a tripartite approach involving financial assistance, health insurance, and social support for the treatment of children with severe thalassemia. Between 2019 and the first half of 2024, Guangxi has performed 1,166 stem cell transplants for thalassemia patients, achieving transplant scales and outcomes that meet international standards, thus alleviating the burden on families and society.
