'Disability is not inability'Preventing birth defects through fortification, one grain at a time

摘要

"It's a different life, but once you accept it, life goes on," says Juliana Auma Okoth, founder of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Kenya (SHAK). Juliana is the proud mother of Phoebe who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus 25 years ago."When I was four months pregnant, I was given some yellow tablets but when I took them, they would make me vomit, so I threw them away. Later on, I learned that the yellow tablets were iron and folic acid. Even if I had been aware of folic acid, I couldn't have believed that those small tablets would have a great impact in the life of an unborn child," notes Juliana.After Phoebe's birth and diagnosis, Juliana soon realised she was not alone; many families in Kenya and around the world faced the same struggle that her family did. "I wondered how many other families are out there struggling with their children and the lack of information," says Juliana "I started the association to provide hope for families."