Spina bifida webinar
Medico Social Event for Doctors and patients
On the eve of WORLD HEALTH DAY, MEYER VITABIOTICS & SPINA BIFIDA FOUNDATION in association with LILAVATI HOSPITAL conducted a Medico Social Event for Doctors and patients. Many dignitaries like Dr. Ravishankar (COO-Lilavati) from the doctors fraternity attended the event.
Mr. Rohit Shelatkar emphasized parents how to keep Spina Bifida affected patients fit through exercise and highlighted the research done by Vitabiotics in UK on Vitamin B12 along with Folic Acid and how Vitabiotics supported the cause. Dr. Karmarkar felicitated Meyer Vitabiotics for the outstanding support and contribution and hence was presented the Spina Bifida Award of the year for the contribution in the field for Neural Tube Defects & SPINA BIFIDA. Veteran Actress Varsha Usgaonkar in her speech applauded the efforts of Meyer Vitabiotics and Spina Bifida along with doctors in spreading awareness to prevent the cause of Spina Bifida.
Birth Defects Awareness Campaign ‘GO FOLIC’ sets foot in Aurangabad
Spina Bifida Foundation & Meyer Vitabiotics Join Hands with IMA & Totla hospital for this Noble Cause.
Aurangabad – 11th & 12th March 2017, Aurangabad’s first ever public awareness campaign on Prevention of Birth Defects, ‘GO FOLIC’ was formally initiated by Dr. Santosh Karmarkar, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Founder Trustee of Spina Bifida Foundation, Mrs. Uma Kalekar, Director, Meyer Vitabiotics. In presence of medical professionals & distinguished people from the society. Meyer Vitabiotics,a leading pharmaceutical company of India and Spina Bifida Foundation have come together to reach out to masses in enhancing the awareness of debilitating birth defects like Spina Bifida. Free patient camp (on 11th March) was organized at Dr.Totla’s hospital followed by CME (on 12th March) at Hotel Rama International, Aurangabad.
In India, the incidence of Birth defects is 61 to 69.9/1000 live births according to March edition of Dimes Global Report on Birth defects. Birth defects account for 20% of infant mortality &are responsible for a substantial number of childhood hospitalizations. Major birth defects include Neural tube defects, Congenital birth defects & Down’s Syndrome. Birth defects are common, costly and critical health challenges particularly in India where 7700 newborn deaths occur due to birth defects alone annually. However, a large number of these deaths can be prevented with cost effective measures through the existing health care systems.
Spina Bifida is a severe neural tube defect that has a devastating effect on the child and entire family. This occurs due to an incomplete closing of the backbone and the membranes around the spinal cord during the pregnancy, leading to poor ability to walk and serious problems with bladder.
Dr. Santosh Karmarkar, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Founder Trustee of Spina Bifida Foundation says, “While globally only 1-2 cases of Spina Bifida are detected for every 1000 live births, in India this number is as high as 4 to 8 per 1000 live births depending upon state to state. Ironically, awareness levels of this condition are drastically low not only among the general masses but also within the medical fraternity. Through Spina Bifida Foundation, we aim to reach out to the Spina Bifida patients and their families and assist in their treatment, rehabilitation, schooling, recreation, occupation and livelihood etc. GO FOLIC is our latest campaign to reach out across India to increase awareness about this condition & other birth defects. A lot of birth defects patients in rural areas do not have access to proper medical facilities. Through this campaign we also hope to reach out to these patients &offer better treatment options.”
About GO FOLIC
Spina Bifida Foundation (SBF) and Meyer Vitabiotics in a first of its kind initiative launched ‘GO FOLIC’ a nation-wide campaign aimed at raising awareness on birth defects like Spina Bifida across the country. Spina Bifida is a very common but relatively lesser known birth defect, leaving a devastating effect on the child and entire patient’s family. Moreover, it remains highest in India with almost 8 per 1000 live births, when compared with the rest of the world.
GO FOLIC seeks to liaise with State Governments, the Union Health Ministry and WHO India and is undertaking a series of activities such as Patient Check-Up Camps & Counselling in Rural and Urban areas, Seminars for Doctors across India, forums for paramedical staff, Mass Awareness programmes and multi-media. Lectures on Birth defects awareness are being conducted in Women’s colleges across the country.
Lecture at MOGS
A special Lecture was delivered by Dr. Santosh Karmarkar, Consultant Pediatric Surgeon at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, at C2D – World Conference on Conception 2 Delivery held on 18-20 November 2016 at St. Regis (Palladium), Mumbai by The Mumbai Obstetric & Gynecological Society. The Topic for the same was Prevention & Management of Birth Defects with special emphasis on Neural Tube Defects prevention.
Flash Mob
A Flash mob was successfully conducted at R City Mall, Ghatkopar, Mumbai on 23rd October 2015 by the members of SBF.
Fund Raiser Musical Concert
