May 18, 2023

Treaty 1 and Dakota Territory, Homeland of the Red River Métis, Winnipeg MB - Today, an NDP Bill to provide critical health care by screening all newborns for Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) passed second reading. The PCs have voted against this bill in the past.

“We are one step closer to providing this critical healthcare for newborns in Manitoba,” said NDP Health Critic Uzoma Asagwara. “But we know the PCs have voted down this bill before. Now it’s up to them to stop stalling and get this bill passed into law before the House rises on June 1st.”

CMV is the number one cause of non-genetic hearing loss in children and a leading cause of disabilities. Because CMV treatments are most effective when given to newborns, early screening is critical for preventing complications later in life. Many other provinces have implemented CMV screening, and thanks to the efforts of the Manitoba NDP team and CMV advocates across the province, Manitoba is poised to become the next province to provide universal screening.

This Saturday, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew will join CMV parent and advocate Rob Tétrault to run a half marathon as part of Tétrault’s 24 half-marathons across Manitoba to raise awareness of CMV and the NDP’s bill.