Angela Onwuzoo
A non-governmental organisation, Festus Fajemilo Foundation, has provided bladder and bowel continence treatment to no fewer than 240 children born with spina bifida in the country through its Saving Lives! Improving Future Project.
The foundation in collaboration with a United Kingdom-based NGO, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Information Networking Equality has trained and equipped 81 nurses and eight community outreach workers on the management of bowel and bladder incontinence associated with the condition under the project.
Spina bifida, experts say is a birth defect in which an area of the spinal column doesn’t form properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back.
The SLIF Project is funded by the UK Department of Health & Social Care and managed by Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET) to improve the lives of people living with spina bifida.
Speaking on the various impacts of the project since its commencement in 2016, at a one-day media workshop in Lagos recently, FFF Executive Director, Afolabi Fajemilo, said the project seeks to enhance the skills, knowledge, and capacity of health workers in the delivery of quality continence care management to increase the life chances of people with spina bifida in Nigeria.
Fajemilo, a Co-Project Lead, SLIF Project, said the lack of dedicated continence care and management clinics for people with spina bifida within Nigeria’s health system inspired the initiative, stressing the need for improved resources and support for children born with the condition in the country.
He said: “In 2016, Festus Fajemilo Foundation collaborated with Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Information Networking Equality (Shine) UK to support public health facilities in Nigeria towards offering a stand-alone continence care & management clinic for people with spina bifida who may experience double incontinence of bladder and bowel throughout their lifetime.
“We have trained 89 health facility staff and community health workers in continence care and management across five of the six geopolitical zones of the country, we engage in regular supplies of free continence equipment & kits to all partner health facilities for improved access to quality continence care services.”
Fajemilo said one of the objectives of the project was to improve the lives of children born with spina bifida across the 36 states in the country through effective bowel and continence care management.
“One of our objectives is to improve the well-being of 250 children with spina bifida through the established hospital-based clinics and outreach activities. At the moment, we have reached 240 children with spina bifida who are currently accessing the care and experiencing improved well-being/self-esteem.
“We have successfully partnered with eight public hospitals across Nigeria, where individuals with spina bifida receive treatment and medications and engage in regular check-ups as the condition requires lifelong management.”
Fajemilo said FFF trains nurses in public health facilities to support families who have children with spina bifida, to ensure they live a life of dignity.
“We are supporting the nurses through their places of work. So, currently, we are working with eight public teaching hospitals, namely Lagos University Teaching Hospital; University College Hospital Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex; University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Rivers State University Teaching Hospital; Federal Medical Center Umuahia; Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital; Sokoto, and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
“ We are supporting the health facilities to be able to have this as one of their hospital’s regular services”, he explained.
The executive director said children with spina bifida do have associated challenges, which include leg deformities, poor sensation in their lower limbs, partial or total paralysis in the lower limbs, and more devastating bowel and incontinence.
He called on the government to intensify awareness about the condition and support affected children to get treatment and lead a productive life.
Deputy Director, Nursing Services, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Ojei Sarat who spoke on challenges associated with spina bifida, said surgery was usually required on babies born with the condition to remove the bulge from the back.
“Some persons living with it may be unable to walk for life on their own or control their urine or faeces.
“Some may even suffer erectile dysfunction to the extent that they may not be able to procreate naturally. “And that is why children with spina bifida need multi-care services from diverse health experts and social workers, and the earlier the better for a good result”, she said.
Sarat assured that with early intervention children with the condition have the potential to study and learn skills and contribute to society.
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