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