The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on communities across the world and individuals with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus (SBH) and their families have seen pre-existing barriers to full societal inclusion increase and new challenges emerge. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a renewed urgency to successfully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). By failing to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, governments left individuals with SBH and their families vulnerable to the effects of the crisis and failed to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination. This is an unacceptable situation which must be addressed. 

After consultations with our Member Associations, the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IF)  has published a statement on COVID-19. The statement outlines the effects of the pandemic on individuals with SBH and their families, the challenges which they have encountered due to the pandemic, and recommendations to policy makers around the world for the ongoing actions and recovery. 

You can read IF’s statement on COVID-19 here.