SUKKUR: The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), in collaboration with healthcare institutions and community partners, has reached approximately 800 women through a medical camp and awareness session in Sukkur aimed at preventing neural tube defects (NTDs), serious birth defects affecting the brain and spinal cord of newborn babies.
The initiative, organised by the Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery at AKUH, provided medical consultations, preventive healthcare guidance and educational materials to participating women. A total of 1,000 folic acid supplements were also distributed to promote maternal health and reduce the risk of birth defects.
The camp was held at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) Children's Hospital ahead of World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day, observed annually on October 25.
The initiative was organised in collaboration with Kazim Trust, Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), and SICHN.
Medical experts highlighted that neural tube defects occur when the neural tube, which eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord, fails to close properly during the early stages of pregnancy.
Research conducted in Pakistan has reported neural tube defect prevalence rates ranging from 38.6 to 124.1 cases per 10,000 births, underscoring the importance of preventive healthcare and public awareness.
Health specialists stressed that taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, ideally beginning before conception, can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Since the neural tube normally closes within the first 28 days after conception, preventive measures must begin before many women even realise they are pregnant.
Dr Saqib Kamran Bakshi, Assistant Professor and Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon at AKUH, emphasised that prevention should begin well before pregnancy.
"Many women only learn about the importance of folic acid after becoming pregnant, but by then, the most critical stage of neural tube development may already have passed. Our message is simple: prevention must begin before pregnancy," he said.
Dr Hafiza Fatima, Senior Instructor and Consultant Neurosurgeon at AKUH, highlighted the critical role of community education in preventing serious birth defects.
"Awareness is the first step towards prevention. Many women are unaware that taking folic acid before pregnancy can help protect their children from serious birth defects. Through initiatives like this camp, we want to reach women directly, provide them with reliable information, and encourage them to make folic acid supplementation part of their daily routine," she stated.
Healthcare professionals also emphasised the importance of integrating folic acid supplementation and preconception counselling into routine maternal healthcare services, particularly in communities where access to preventive health information remains limited.
The organisers said that bringing medical consultations, educational resources and folic acid supplements directly to women would help promote early preventive care and encourage healthier pregnancies.
Through this collaborative initiative, AKUH and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maternal and child healthcare, improving community awareness and reducing the preventable burden of neural tube defects in Pakistan.
