Ridge Hospital to lead data collection on spina bifida and hydrocephalus victims

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, has pledged to initiate and lead a campaign to collect data on persons with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) in Ghana.

The hospital will collaborate with all health facilities, traditional birth attendants and other stakeholders to gather reliable data, which is expected to help improve the lives of people, especially children with the condition and their families.

The administrator of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Mr Emmanuel Srofenyoh, made the pledge during this year's celebration of World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day in Accra on Monday, October 25, 2021.

Ghana currently does not have any data on children born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. The situation has resulted in children with the condition being left out of state policies that could alleviate the burdens of their families.

The National Health Insurance Scheme, for instance, does not cover the treatment of SBH, despite its treatment and management being arguably the most expensive of all disability types in the country so far.

Advocates for persons with SBH are finding it difficult to locate people with the condition, and it is believed that some families get rid of children born with the SBH, since they can not afford the high cost of treatment.

Mr Srofenyoh also pledged to liaise with advocacy groups to embark on an educational campaign to draw attention to the condition and its prevention.

SPINA BIFIDA AND HYDROCEPHALUS

Spina Bifida is the inability of the spinal cord to form properly in the womb, which affects mobility and also leads to infections of the kidneys and bladder; and Hydrocephalus is a collection of fluid in the head, which affects the formation of the brain. It also leads to swelling of the head, if treatment doesn't start early. The two almost always come together.

In Ghana, children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus hardly cross the age of 10, due to the difficulty in its treatment and management.

CAUSES

Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus are caused by genetic, nutritional environmental risk factors, such as family history of neural tube defects and certain vitamins deficiencies. They take place within the first three weeks of pregnancy.

PREVENTION

According to health experts, 7 out of 10 SBH cases are preventable by women simply taking in more folic acid.

Women within the productive ages are advised to eat more legumes, whole grains, citrus and leafy foods to reduce their chances of producing children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

WORLD SPINA BIFIDA AND HYDROCEPHALUS DAY CELEBRATION

Since 2012, the International Federation of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, set October 25 as a day to raise awareness about the condition and to seek support for victims.

In Ghana, the day was observed for the first time last year, 2020. It was organised by Rickmes Foundation, a SBH advocacy group; which also organized it this year in partnership with Dorcas Margaret Foundation, another advocacy group and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

The occasion was also used to launch a support fund dubbed "Drain the fluid". Benevolent individuals and organisations can donate to bank Account: 1400004714662. Bank name cal Bank, KNUST BRANCH. MOMO NUMBER : 0558531135, NAME RICKMES FOUNDATION.

The Executive Director of Rickmes Foundation, Mr Patrick Essuman mentioned some difficulties of people with SBH as stigma and discrimination, which cause some families to keep their children indoors, bad attitude of health workers who dim the hopes of parents about the survival of their children; lack of resourced health facilities for the treatment and management of the condition.

He called on all to do away with the negativity and rather support victims and their families to fight through their already difficult situation.