This petition of residents of the Australian Capital Territory draws to the attention of the Assembly: the infant mortality of Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID). SCID is a life-threatening condition that without early diagnosis and treatment results in death within the first few months of life.
Your petitioners therefore request that the Assembly calls on the Government to: introduce the inclusion of screening for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) into the existing Newborn Screening (Guthrie test) to reduce preventable infant mortality. Inclusion in the Newborn Screening test would enable early detection, diagnosis and lifesaving treatment for these babies. This is already standard practice in New Zealand, most US states and other OECD countries.