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Association for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus - Ability Beyond Disability
Go Folic Northern Ireland Launch
Go Folic Before You Frolic!
A major new campaign has been launched that will urge all sexually active women who might become pregnant to take the correct dose of folic acid everyday.
The Go Folic! initiative was launched at on 27th May at the Professionals Conference, Belfast by the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH). The event was attended by David Proud, the former Eastenders star who has spina bifida.
Go Folic! aims to improve womens’ folic acid intake and so reduce the incidence of Neural Tube Defects such as spina bifida, which occur in the early weeks of pregnancy. Every day in the UK, an average of two babies conceived - 900 each year - will go on to develop a Neural Tube Defect (NTD).
Up to 72% of these defects could be prevented if women took folic acid tablets at the right time and dosage. However, at present, only 5.5% of women take folic acid correctly and the incidence of Neural Tube Defects remains stubbornly high, often with tragic consequences.
NTD’s happen within the first 28 days of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
It is therefore essential that women take the correct dose of folic acid daily – ideally for three months - before they become pregnant.
The Go Folic! campaign aims to inform and motivate women to act on this information and impress upon them that a healthy balanced diet is not enough to achieve the required levels of folic acid in their bodies to help prevent NTDs developing in their unborn babies.
Women need to take 400mcg of folic acid daily prior to conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some women may need a higher dose, particularly if there is a family history of spina bifida or if the mother has diabetes or coeliac disease or if she takes anti-epileptic medicines.
ASBAH Northern Ireland Director Cathy McKillop has called on everyone who can influence women on this critical issue to get behind the campaign and help reduce the often tragic consequences of NTDs.
"NTDs are a serious health threat which can lead to enormous challenges and painful decisions. The most serious form, anencephaly, means that the baby will not live beyond birth, and many babies born with spina bifida face a life with serious, multiple disabilities. We can drastically reduce the incidence of NTDs if we can get women to take folic acid correctly.
"We need a concerted effort from everyone - not just health professionals - to get this message across to women: If you are sexually active and might become pregnant, take a folic acid tablet everyday; it's simple to Go Folic!"
EDITORS NOTES:
* If you would like to host a fundraising event, or if you would like to find out more about the work of ASBAH in Northern Ireland, please contact Cathy McKillop (Director ASBAH NI) by post ASBAH PO Box 132, Cushendall, BT44 0WA or email cathym@ashba.org or telephone: 07762574861.* ASBAH is Europe’s largest organisation dedicated to supporting individuals and families as they face the challenges arising from spina bifida and hydrocephalus. For further details on the charity please visit our 'About ASBAH Page'.
WORTH NOTING:
- Spina Bifida occurs very early in pregnancy when the spine and brain are being formed. It is a fault in the development of the spine, which fails to close properly. Spina Bifida often results in paralysis below the fault resulting in severe disability.
- A major secondary complication of Spina Bifida is Hydrocephalus – excess fluid pressure in the brain, which can cause brain damage if not treated promptly.
- Hydrocephalus can also occur at any time of life, for other reasons, including meningitis, premature birth, stroke or tumours.
ASBAH Media Contacts:For more information on the work of ASBAH and how this event benefits the work of the charity please call Tom Scott, Marcomms Officer at ASBAH, on 07769 217050 or email toms@asbah.org
STAY IN CONTACT WITH ASBAH:
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