Objectives

What is Spina Bifida

Every person has fluid in their brain but children with Spina Bifida tend to collect more fluid than normal in the brain, which is called HYDROCEPHALUS or "Water on the brain". If it is not treated it will cause the head to become bigger. If the child has hydrocephalus a small tube (shunt) is placed in the head and the extra fluid is drained away to the abdomen. 

While the majority of children have normal intelligence, those with Hydrocephalus may have learning problems, although most of them attend mainstream or special schools.

It is a congenital defect where some of the bones that make up the unborn baby's spinal column, do not join together properly, leaving an opening in the spine usually in the lower part of the back. The soft parts of the spinal cord may push through this opening. These soft parts consist of the spinal nerves, fluid and meninges. This is the lump that may be visible on the baby's back at birth. 

The spinal cord has been damaged; messages from the brain do not get down the spinal cord to the lower part of the body. As a result, there is loss of sensation, bladder and bowel control and mobility problems. Disability varies from child to child depending on the level of the lesion on the spine.

Our Main Objectives:

1. To protect and promote the interests of all persons with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and related disabilities. 

2. To promote and/or support measures which will prevent or reduce the occurrence of disabling conditions and their effects. 

3. To promote, undertake and or support such accessible and equitable community-based medical, educational, vocational, social, recreational rehabilitation and social services and facilities as may be required by persons with disabilities to achieve independence.

What is Hydrocephalus