Activists Demand Enforcement of Nutrition Standards to Combat Spina Bifida

The government has been urged to take immediate action to fortify staple foods with folic acid to prevent Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. 

According to Phoebe Mutonyi, Chairperson of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHAU), the current lack of folic acid in food products is contributing to the high incidence of these conditions.

Speaking during World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day commemorations in Kampala, Mutonyi revealed that approximately one child is born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in every 10,000 births, highlighting the need for urgent action. 

“Are we really getting value for money? We have established institutions that handle this, but are they following it up? Does the food, the flour, and the posho coming out have enough folic acid?” Mutonyi questioned. 

The association is urging the government to ensure food manufacturers comply with fortification regulations to prevent these conditions.

CURE Children’s Hospital in Mbale, which manages these conditions, has reported alarming statistics. Between January and September, they treated 217 spina bifida cases and 1,200 for hydrocephalus.

Tony Wambi, a nurse at the hospital, emphasized the need for increased awareness, more trained neurosurgeons, and better support for hospitals managing these conditions.

Dr. George Upenytho, Ministry of Health Commissioner of Community Health, said the government is prioritizing fortification and awareness to reduce neural tube defects. 

He further noted that the government has developed a comprehensive strategy called the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategy Plan (2025-2026 to 2030-2031). 

“At the center of all this, it is prevention. That is the preferred mode,” he emphasized, adding that the strategy addresses prevention, care, treatment, and rehabilitation at various levels.

Spina bifida is a birth defect where the spinal cord doesn’t fully close, causing nerve damage and potential problems with movement, bladder, and bowel control. Hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain,” is often linked to spina bifida and involves a buildup of fluid in the brain that increases pressure and can further damage it.