尊龙凯时 - 人生就是搏!

This Mother’s Day, BGI Genomics proudly launches the #14DaysToBeAPreparedMum campaign across Europe and Africa. Hosted on Instagram, the campaign is designed to empower mothers and mothers-to-be with essential, science-backed prenatal healthcare knowledge for a healthier start to life.

Snapshots of the campaign, click here to learn more.

Becoming a mother is a journey of hope and excitement, but it also brings emotional challenges. Anxiety and stress are common, especially in the first and third trimesters, often driven by concerns about fetal health, the risk of congenital anomalies, previous pregnancy losses, and personal health issues. These emotional pressures are not without consequences—elevated maternal cortisol levels can impact fetal brain development and are linked to outcomes like low birth weight and preterm birth.

Through this campaign, BGI Genomics not only raises awareness about key maternal health topics, such as monogenic diseases and congenital disorders, but also promotes proactive steps for risk reduction. It emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility between mothers and fathers in creating a healthy beginning for their children.

The Silent Challenges Mothers Face

Every pregnancy brings hope, as well as hidden risks. According to the World Health Organization, congenital disorders affect 1 in 33 infants globally, causing over 300,000 deaths annually among children under five. Often undetected until late pregnancy or after birth, these conditions make early screening essential for better outcomes.

For Sonia Bumbel, a 34-year-old from Romania, the journey to motherhood was lined with resilience. After enduring years of infertility and the heartache of an ectopic pregnancy, Sonia and her husband, Claudiu, knew they wanted every possible safeguard for their long-awaited child.

Guided by their physician, the couple chose a comprehensive prenatal genetic screening path, including BGI Genomics' NIFTY® Pro for chromosomal conditions, the updated NIFTY® mono for certain dominant single-gene disorders, and VISTA™ Carrier Screening to identify hidden recessive risks.

The results brought peace: while Sonia and Claudiu each carried different genetic variants, their baby was at low risk for inherited disorders. “It was a relief to know that we could check so many potential health issues with just a simple blood test,” Sonia recalled. Within just ten days of a painless blood draw in February 2024, she received the reassurance she had prayed for.

A Promise of a Healthier Future

WHO data highlights that many countries are falling short of global targets to reduce maternal and newborn mortality by 2030. These inequities are exacerbated in developing regions, where access to essential healthcare services remains limited.

Dr. Waheed Asghar, Executive Director of the Strategic Management & Internal Policy Unit at the Specialised Healthcare Department of Punjab, Pakistan, explained: "Congenital disorders stem from a combination of genetic, environmental, and unexplained factors. Genetics accounts for approximately 30–50% of congenital anomalies.” Dr Asghar suggested that “Prenatal screening and newborn screening shift healthcare from managing irreversible complications to preventive care and optimal development."

Early genetic screening changes lives and strengthens health systems. Achieving universal access requires collaboration across technology providers, governments, and communities. As a pioneer in NIPT, BGI Genomics has made noninvasive prenatal testing widely accessible, helping millions of parents and making it a routine part of maternal care.

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate not just the visible milestones—first kicks, first cries—but the unseen battles fought with quiet courage.

About NIFTY®

NIFTY® offers screening for some of the most common trisomies present at birth, including trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome). NIFTY® also provides testing options for sex chromosomal aneuploidies, chromosomal deletions/duplications and gender.

About VISTA™ Carrier Screening

Vista™ Carrier Screening offers multiple panel options (Mini, Targeted, & 1200+) to fit with your own condition. The latest released 1200+ panel product can detect over 1,200 genes, more than 1200 genetic disorders are covered, providing carriers with educational summarized information.

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is the world's leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Its services cover more than 100 countries and regions and involve more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) officially began trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.