Buganda Kingdom Holds Special Awareness Workshop on Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
The Kingdom of Buganda has organized a special awareness workshop focusing on the congenital conditions Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH).
The health education session aimed to increase public understanding of these conditions, which occur when a child is born with defects of the spine or brain, rather than being acquired after birth.
According to health experts, between 800 and 1,000 Ugandans are currently living with these conditions, with the highest prevalence reported in the Buganda region.
The Head of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHA-U), Ruth Nalugya, explained that one of the major causes of these conditions is inadequate maternal health care during pregnancy.
Other causes include infections such as Rubella (German measles) contracted during the first 28 days of pregnancy, and infections acquired by infants soon after birth.
The Minister for Social Development in the Buganda Kingdom, Mariam Nkalubo Mayanja, who officially opened the workshop, expressed deep concern for people with disabilities, calling for more inclusive and specialised support centers.
We are appealing for the establishment of dedicated camps for persons with disabilities — places where they can learn and receive services in an environment designed for them. Even when other people attend, the facilities such as beds and equipment should be disability-friendly.
The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHA-U) partnered with the Kingdom of Buganda to organize the workshop. SHA-U reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Kingdom to raise awareness, promote early detection, and support prevention efforts across all communities.
