The National Neonatal Screening Program, popularly known as the “heel prick test”, completed 25 years this year. You've certainly seen the image of blood being collected from a hole made in the baby's heel. Although it is not enough to make a diagnosis, the heel prick test is essential to indicate suspicions of dozens of rare conditions and diseases. Collection must be done in the maternity ward or at the health center, between 48 hours and five days after birth. Currently, there are two types of tests: the basic one, offered by the SUS, and the expanded one, which is available in private laboratories. The basic test detects seven diseases. The expanded one, more than 50. In May 2021, a law changed the Child and Adolescent Statute so that the SUS started offering the expanded test. But the legislation did not establish deadlines for states and municipalities to comply with this expansion. And today, five years later, the expanded test is only available in two states and the Federal District. Conclusion... one baby in every 2,500 born has irreversible sequelae caused by lack of early diagnosis. That's exactly what happened to Theo, son of our interviewee today, journalist Larissa Carvalho. Larissa is a reporter for TV Globo in Belo Horizonte and fought tirelessly to expand the Pezinho test in the SUS. So much so that the law became popularly known as Theo Law. She will tell us what her routine is like with her son and what the reality is for families who have children with rare diseases. Bem-Estar podcast logo Art/Wellbeing