By Disability News GH

Women within the reproductive age bracket have been urged to take in more folic acid to reduce the risk of giving birth to children with neural tube defects (serious birth defects of the brain and spine).

The Executive Director of RECKMES FOUNDATION, a Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus advocacy organisation, Mr Patrick Assuman said, a daily intake of folic acid will reduce up to 70% risk of producing children with neural tube defects like Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, among others.


He pointed out that, such neutral defects happen within the first three weeks of conception and because most women do not plan their pregnancies, it would be very necessary for them to make a conscious effort to fortify their system by consuming folic acid daily.


Mr Assuman was speaking in an interview with Disability News GH at the sidelines of a workshop in Accra on January 28, 2022, to mark this year’s World Folic Acid awareness week.


Since 1997, the world marks the Folic Acid Awareness Week annually to draw attention to the need for women to commit themselves to a daily intake of at least 400 micrograms of the powerful B Vitamin of folic acid to fight neutral tube defects, as well as folate deficiency anemia in infants.

This year’s awareness week was spearheaded by RECKMES FOUNDATION in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge and Foods and Drugs Authority.


The workshop brought together stakeholders to find effective ways to sensitise the public, particularly women from 15 to 45 years on the essential vitamin B mineral of folic acid.


Further engagements would be held later to plan how to embark on a school tour campaign to educate school children about folic acid intake. 


To meet the daily recommended amount of folic acid, women can take a multivitamin or eat a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100% of the daily value of folic acid per serving.


Folic acid is also found in high proportions in unaltered foods like leafy greens, bread and legumes.

SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH

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