Vellore Collector inaugurates awareness exhibition on folic acid deficiency among women

Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi inaugurated an awareness exhibition at Christian Medical College (CMC) campus in Vellore on folic acid deficiency among women that could cause abnormalities in the development of brain and spinal cord in unborn children.

According to a press release, the exhibition, which was organised by the Department of Neurological Sciences and Spinal Dysraphism Clinic of CMC, was a part of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus awareness month (October).

At present, all pregnant women are given folic acid once the pregnancy is detected. However, as the brain and spinal cord are formed even before a woman realizes that she is pregnant (during the first four weeks after conception), it is important to ensure folic acid supplementation when the woman is planning to conceive (three months before pregnancy), and it is continued during the first three months after pregnancy is detected.

Patients, mostly children, with the defects present with lower limb weakness, and if not detected and treated early, they can develop severe disabilities. It can be prevented if folic acid is taken by the woman who is planning to have a child, three months before conception or pregnancy, the release said.