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Malawi celebrates World Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Day

A photo essay

By CURE International

May 23^rd, 2018

CURE Malawi co-workers celebrate World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day with the team at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. Our CURE Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida program is involved in training surgeons working at places like Queen Elizabeth in how to treat these conditions. One of our nurses, Favour, even works at "Queens" providing care and counseling to parents and children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida.

Malawi celebrates World Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Day

So many people showed up for the event that they couldn’t all fit under the pavilion. Some watched from under a tree on the front lawn of the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

Ane, a Physio Rehab Technician, signed in those who came—including this cutie!

Many mothers of children with hydrocephalus came to the celebration. A group of dancers also came out to sing and perform!

Often the best way to get people to remember things is through skits! In this skit, a father left his wife and got remarried because the child was born with hydrocephalus. He thought the child was bewitched. His sister called him back and explained about the condition. He returned home and promised to take care of the child and bring her to a hospital. Unfortunately, abandonment is a very common story for many women who have children with disabilities in Malawi.

Also, former patients gave their testimonies. Salama, a spina bifida patient, testified how he was helped by Queens. He completed schooling and now works at the hospital himself!

The dance and praise team call up the moms to dance with them!

Miracle and his mom watch the festivities.

Charles, one of the founders of CURE Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida, happened to be in the country for World Hydrocephalus Day! He was asked to give a short speech.

Dr. Emma Thomson, one of the surgeons at Queen Elizabeth, was even brave enough to dance a little!

Dr. Thomson explains the importance of pregnant mothers having folic acid in their diet to help prevent spina bifida. T-shirts with examples of fruits and veggies that contain folic acid in them were given out so that parents can go back to their villages and spread the news.

Teens with spina bifida dance to celebrate!

Dr. Vita Stagno, a neurosurgeon on the board of advisors for CURE Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida, made it out of surgery for an hour to see some of the celebrations.

Memory, one of Nurse Favour’s patients, wanted to pose with her. All of the kids love Nurse Favour. She works for the CURE Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida program.

There was a lot of dancing to honor the speakers as they were announced.

The guest of honor was Dr. Chioza Bandawe, a psychologist and lecturer at the College of Medicine.

A group photo of attendees: mostly parents and patients.

Patients pose with Nurse Favour. They all wanted to get a picture with her! She has known many of them since they were born. She began in 2003 as a neuro nurse in Malawi.