Hyderabad: Ankura Hospital, a premier women and child care hospital, in association with Spina Bifida Foundation (SBF) and Indian Association of Paediatrics (IAP) of the twin citis launched the Telangana chapter of the foundation as a pivotal step to create awareness and support the individuals affected by Spina Bifida. The Telangana Chapter of Spina Bifida was formally launched on Spina Bifida Day 2023 by Hon’able Governor of Telangana State, Dr (Smt.) Tamilisai Soundararajan, in the presence of Dr. Santosh J. Karmarkar, Founder Spina Bifida Foundation, Dr. Krishna Prasad Vunnam, Founder and Managing Director, Ankura Hospital, Dr. VVS Chandrasekharam, Chief Consultant, Paediatric Surgeon, Ankura Hospitals, guests, doctors and some patients of Spina Bifida and their families. The event had multiple multi-disciplinary medical education programmes for the doctors on Spina Bifida, its diagnosis, treatment and management approaches which were followed by performances by Spina Bifida individuals.
Spina Bifida a congenital defect of spine in which part of spinal cord and its meninges are exposed through a gap in the backbone often causing paralysis of the lower limbs. Four out of every 1000 children born in India have spina bifida. Spina Bifida is a common birth defect that can go unnoticed and increase the debility of those suffering due to lack of awareness. Spina Bifida Foundation aims to create awareness, support the individuals affected by Spina Bifida, exploring treatment options, building a community for knowledge sharing and mutual support and celebrating the achievements of individuals with Spina Bifida.
Hon’ble Governor, Dr. (Smt.) Tamilisai Soundararajan was delighted by the performances by Spina Bifida individuals. She highlighted the importance and the need for having the Telangana Chapter of Spina Bifida Foundation which would help in creating awareness, sharing knowledge and building a community to support the individuals and their families suffering from Spina Bifida.
According to Dr. Santosh J Karmarkar, Chairman of the Spina Bifida Foundation, “Spina Bifida is the most common birth defect of the central nervous system, in which the spinal cord fails to develop or close properly while the baby is still developing in the womb. It can occur due to multiple factors, both genetic and environmental. Folic acid deficiency is an associated and preventable cause of this condition. Improper development of the spinal cord leads to multiple problems in different organs of the body and impacts the daily activities of the child. Once diagnosed, the primary treatment for the disease is surgical intervention at the right time, followed by medical management. The associated debility in these individuals occurs since the nerves get affected and can vary from person to person depending on the severity of the disease. The Spina Bifida Foundation helps provide support to individuals suffering from this condition. it brings parents and doctors under the same roof to provide the best possible medical support for Spina Bifida individuals. “
“Ankura Hospital for Women and Children, Banjara Hills Centre, will cater to all the required medical support for children with Spina Bifida. The hospital itself is an exclusive women’s and children’s hospital that provides holistic treatments and has all medical sub-specialties for women and children under a single roof. This initiative of comprehensive multi-specialty care for Spina Bifida patients under one roof at Ankura Hospital is very unique. By increasing awareness for this condition through the Spina Bifida Foundation, we hope to improve the quality of life in more children,” says Dr. VVS Chandrasekharam, Senior Paediatric Surgeon, at Ankura Hospital for Women and Children.
As a part of World Spina Bifida Day 2023, Ankura Hospital for Women and Children, in association with the Spina Bifida Foundation and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics Twin Cities Branch (IAPTCB), also organized a multidisciplinary continuing medical education program for doctors from across the twin cities. The launch programme drew to a close with a cultural program by the Spina Bifida patients.