11 May | 13:00 UK time | Register
Congenital anomalies significantly contribute to under-5 mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Early identification allows for proper management and planning of intervention with possible improved outcomes. A recent systematic review on surgically correctable anomalies found birth defect screening and surveillance programs missing or only just developed in Low and lower-middle-Income countries. This webinar highlights the existing congenital anomaly screening programs, emphasising community screening strategies in low and middle-income countries.
Chair: Dr Caroline Osoro, Co-investigator, MiMBa (Malaria in Mothers and Babies), Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute
Screening methods for congenital anomalies in low and lower-middle-income countries
Dr. Justina O. Seyi-Olajide, Paediatric Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Lagos University TeachingHospital, Lagos, Nigeria
A birth defects service model for low and low-middle income countries
Prof. Anita Kar, Director, Birth Defects and Childhood Disability Research Centre, Pune, India
Hope Walks: Clubfoot Early Detection, Referral, and Treatment
Erin Williams, Occupational Therapist & Global Health Professional, Clinical Program Officer- HopeWalks
The prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) in sub-Saharan Africa is high in comparison with other regions. Recent systematic reviews estimated the pooled prevalence of NTD in Africa at approximately 21 - 50 per 10,000 births with the highest rates in East Africa. Associations with folate supplementation and maternal environmental exposures have been noted. This webinar aims to bring together collaborators from across the region to discuss the epidemiology, prevention and management of NTD as well as addressing issues of access to care and patient support.
Chair: Dr Sylvia Roozen, Secretary General, International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
Spina bifida- Ancient disease, modern challenges
Professor Graham Fieggen, Helen and Morris Mauerberger Professor and Head of Division University of Cape Town; Head of Clinical Department, Neurosurgery Groote Schuur Hospital & Paediatric Neurosurgeon Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital; Director, UCT Neuroscience Institute University of Cape Town, South Africa
Neural Tube Defect Surveillance in Botswana: 2014-2022
Modiegi Diseko, Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
Neural Tube Defects, its impact and proposed solution in Ethiopia
Dr Masresha Tessema, Food and Nutrition Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Identifying and addressing excess burden of neural tube defects from CHAMPS Ethiopia: Transforming data to action
Assistant Professor Lola Madrid, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Haramaya University & Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network (CHAMPS) Program, Ethiopia
Neural Tube Defects from a hospital-based birth defect surveillance in Kampala, Uganda
Dr Linda Barlow-Mosha, Makerere University-Johns Hopkins Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda