Speak FM
  Stream radio
Menu
Speak FM
  2. Health
  3. Northern Uganda struggles with inadequate care for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus patients

Northern Uganda struggles with inadequate care for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus patients

14 November 2026, 8:01 am

Some of the patients suffering from spina bifida and Hydrocephalus attending the evaluation meeting at Gulu district council hall on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

By Emmanuel Mwaka

Northern Uganda continues to face significant challenges in providing proper medical management and care for individuals living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, according to the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHA-U).

Speaking during an evaluation meeting held at the Gulu District Council Hall on Wednesday, SHA-U Executive Director Ruth Nalugga revealed that the lack of adequate rehabilitation facilities remains a major burden for patients and families across the region

Ruth Nalugga the executive director of SHA-U speaking on the challenges the region faces in handling the disesaes.
Ruth Nalugga the Executive director Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda speaking during the evaluation meeting at the district council hall on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

During the same event, Hon. Obol Justine Simpleman urged parents to take shared responsibility in caring for children with disabilities, emphasizing that both mothers and fathers must actively support their children. He also encouraged patients and their caretakers to remain resilient and hopeful despite the daily challenges they face.

Hon Obol Justine Simpleman the Gulu district Chairman on the parental care for the patients.
Hon Obol Justine Simpleman the Gulu district chairman handing over a gift to a community facilitator working SHA-U at the district council hall on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

Meanwhile, Gulu District Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Florence Anna Alanyo commended the organizers for convening the evaluation meeting. She cautioned the public to handle persons with disabilities (PWDs) with heightened care and sensitivity, noting that many live with severe conditions requiring specialized attention.

Alanyo further pledged that the Office of the President will continue working closely with PWDs to support their welfare and inclusion.

Alanyo Florence Anna the assistant RDC Gulu district on the government commitments.

An estimated 1,400 children are born with spina bifida in Uganda each year. A large hospital-based surveillance study analyzing over 110,000 births found spina bifida to be the most common neural tube defect (57.8% of all NTDs), with an estimated prevalence of 5.7 per 10,000births.

Health planning estimates indicate roughly 10,000 new cases of infant hydrocephalus occur annually in Uganda (based on an estimated rate of ~6 cases per 1,000 live births out of roughly 1.75 million annual births