The Festus Fajemilo Foundation (FFF), a non-governmental organization, has called for increased awareness and specialized care for children living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH). At a media sensitization event themed “Saving Lives, Improving Futures (SLIF Project)” at Lagos Airport Hotel, the foundation addressed misconceptions about these conditions, emphasizing the importance of early intervention to improve outcomes.
During the event, FFF Co-Founder Afolabi Fajemilo highlighted the absence of dedicated continence care clinics in Nigeria’s healthcare system, which inspired the foundation’s initiative. He noted that in 2016, FFF partnered with Shine UK to support public health facilities in establishing standalone clinics for bladder and bowel incontinence management for individuals with spina bifida.
Since the collaboration began, FFF has trained 89 healthcare professionals and community health workers across five geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The foundation also supplies free continence equipment to partner facilities, improving access to quality care for individuals with spina bifida.
Fajemilo explained that the SLIF Project aims to enhance the capacity of health workers to deliver quality continence care. The project has reached 240 out of a target of 250 children with spina bifida, helping them experience improved well-being and self-esteem through hospital-based clinics and outreach activities.
Eight public hospitals, including Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and University College Hospital (UCH), have partnered with FFF to provide lifelong treatment, medications, and regular check-ups for affected individuals. These facilities have become centers of hope for children and families managing the condition.
Lara Fernandez, an FFF volunteer and social worker, urged young people to abstain from premarital and unprotected sex to lower the risk of congenital birth defects like spina bifida. She also advised women of childbearing age to take folic acid regularly to reduce the likelihood of giving birth to children with such conditions.
Fernandez emphasized that abstinence is the most effective preventive measure. For those sexually active, especially married couples, folic acid supplementation is critical for boosting immunity and reducing risks associated with congenital abnormalities.
One beneficiary of the program, 20-year-old Awodipe Gbemisola, shared her story of transformation. She explained how the care and treatment provided through the program helped her manage bedwetting and improved her ability to socialize confidently, enhancing her quality of life.
The foundation also called on the government to strengthen efforts in preventing birth defects like spina bifida by promoting public health awareness and providing resources for early intervention. It urged society to eliminate stigma and discrimination against individuals with these conditions.
Through its initiatives, the Festus Fajemilo Foundation continues to advocate for better healthcare, improved support systems, and inclusivity for individuals living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, striving to create a brighter future for affected children and their families.
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