Spina Bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly. It often leads to paralysis and deformities of the lower limbs and is often not properly diagnosed in Vietnam. Seeking to improve the specific knowledge and skills of medical and rehabilitation professionals, USAID’s Humanity and Inclusion activity helped develop Vietnam’s Rehabilitation Guidelines and launched a continuing medical education campaign targeting medical and rehabilitation service providers.

In the last week of March, international and local experts conducted a training in Hue province for more than 50 health professionals with different specializations from around the country who will be involved in care and treatment of spina bifida patients. In addition, USAID also worked with international and local professionals to review the existing rehabilitation protocols and technical guidelines for five brain lesion diseases, including spina bifida in order to update them.

So What? As USAID works with Vietnam to create sustainable models for inclusion of persons with disabilities, early detection and screening through better trained medical professionals will lead to better access to rehabilitation services, thereby enabling persons with spina bifida to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.