The Addis Ababa Health Bureau announces its newest campaign to combat spina bifida and hydrocephalus, birth defects that affect the development of the spine, spinal cord and the brain, leading to paralysis and early death.
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa Health Bureau, Rotary International, and ReachAnother Foundation, the campaign  aims to promote the awareness and consumption of folic acid, (a form of vitamin B), which is crucial to the healthy development of newborns.
In Ethiopia, approximately 1 in 500 pregnancies are affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The campaign will feature television and radio advertisements, and pamphlets distributed throughout hospitals and health clinics in Addis Ababa, drawing attention to the need for expectant mothers to consume folic acid before becoming pregnant. Additionally, all health extension workers and maternal health experts have been trained to counsel expectant mothers.
Reach Another Foundation (RAF) is a US-based, non-profit organization committed to promoting better healthcare and special education services for medically underserved communities in Ethiopia.