TURKEY

Our association was established by the patients’ families and specialist physicians in June 1997 in Izmir. As of 2014, in Istanbul, Ankara and our three branches located in Bursa, Edirne, Manisa and Trabzon are our three representatives. Our national convention of 2014 was organized in February 2014 under the chairmanship of Bursa Bursa Branch. 27. International Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus June congress took place in 2013 in Izmir, Turkey with participats from 31 countries.

The aim of the association is that the most common congenital anomalies like spina bifida, caused by the combination of expert knowledge and experience in dealing with other diseases and development, education of patients and their families with this anomaly and ensuring solidarity between them, determining the diagnosis and treatment standards by way of research, raising Spina bifida studies to reduce the birth rate (eg, flour, to make mandatory addition of folic acid) and disseminated by the association establishing branches throughout Turkey. Patients and their families with spina bifida, their health, education, support for the exercise of democratic rights by doing all kinds of educational and rehabilitation work in overcoming the challenges of issues such as employment is provided.

Spina Bifida Association since 2000, is a member of the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. In 2013 by the General Assembly during the congress in Izmir President Nurdan Anli was elected for three years as member of the International Federation’s Board of Directors.