Seminar: "Healthier babies worldwide: partnership for neural tube defect prevention"
Hosted by the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development (NHD) and the Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability (VIP)
Date: Monday, 22 October 2012
Time: 11:30 to 12:30
Venue: Salle C (5th floor)
WHO Geneva, Swizerland
1st Presentation
Healthier babies worldwide: partnership for neural tube defect prevention
Speakers: Ms Alina Flores, MPH, CHES and Ms Aliki Pappas Weakland, MPH, MSW
Neural tube defects (NTDs), serious birth defects of the brain and spine, are a significant, preventable cause of infant death and childhood disability. Estimates indicate that there are more than 300,000 neural tube defects worldwide each year, with many of these occurring in low-resource countries. NTDs form during the first month of pregnancy – often well before a woman knows she is pregnant. Although the B vitamin folic acid has been shown to prevent the majority of NTDs, many women of reproductive age do not consume adequate amounts of folic acid, either through supplements or fortified foods. US CDC is working with partners for healthier babies worldwide by advancing NTD prevention in Asia, Africa and The Americas. This seminar aims to discuss the goals, key strategies, progress and future direction of CDC’s efforts to eliminate folic acid-preventable NTDs.
2nd Presentation
Beyond prevention – care and support for children with birth anomalies
Speaker: Mr Chapal Khasnabis, Technical Officer, WHO