Spina Bifida Association of America Annual Conference Draws Together Persons Touched by Spina Bifida
Contact: Marybeth Leongini of the Spina Bifida Association of America, 202-944-3285, ext. 15;
Web site: http://www.sbaa.org
HERSHEY, Pa., June 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA) will hold its annual conference "Patchwork of Our Lives" at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, June 28-30.
The conference appeals to persons with spina bifida, their family members as well as educators and medical professionals by covering a wide spectrum of issues relative to this birth defect.
This year's conference has been assembled to include something for all attending. Special program tracks have been tailored for children and teens in order to address age specific concerns. Conference speakers will cover a variety of topics ranging from latex allergy and stress management to grassroots fundraising for spina bifida organizations. In addition, several opportunities for networking have been scheduled.
Spina bifida, a neural tube defect (NTD), occurs when the spinal column fails to completely close during the first month of fetal development. There is no known cure for spina bifida though a link has been established between the mother's blood folate levels prior to pregnancy and the occurrence of spina bifida. In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service issued a recommendation for all women capable of becoming pregnant to consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected by NTDs.
During the conference, SBAA will host a meeting for members of the National Council on Folic Acid. The National Council on Folic Acid is a coalition of organizations that share the common goal of promoting the use of folic acid to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. The National Council on Folic Acid meets on a quarterly basis allowing participating organizations to share resources as they work toward the common goal of educating the 60 million women of childbearing age in the United States on the importance of taking folic acid prior to becoming pregnant.
As a founding member of the National Council on Folic Acid, the Spina Bifida Association of America has maintained an ongoing folic acid awareness campaign. In January, SBAA launched a television public service announcement campaign featuring First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. The campaign has been a great success and SBAA will shortly launch a radio campaign to encourage women capable of becoming pregnant to begin folic acid consumption.
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will receive recognition for her contribution to SBAA's public awareness efforts during the conference award ceremony. The participation of the First Lady has been invaluable to SBAA. "With the generous efforts put forth by Mrs. Clinton, we feel the folic acid message is finally being heard. People are beginning to form an understanding of what is involved with this devastating birth defect which then allows them to recognize the need for preventative measures," said SBAA Board Chair Richard Thayer.
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The mission of the Spina Bifida Association of America is to promote the prevention of spina bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected. The Spina Bifida Association of America is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization. SBAA's efforts benefit thousands of infants, children, adults, parents and professionals each year.
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/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
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