STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Improving national decision-makers’ access to knowledge about primary prevention of spina bifida and adult hydrocephalus
Improving organisational capacity of IF members to work on primary prevention.
Improving processes of multi-stakeholder networking
Facilitating mutual learning among IF members
Helping members develop research-based advocacy strategies and supporting them in the implementation of their advocacy goals.
Supporting national campaigns and communicating outcomes

What is THE IF GLOBAl Prevention Initiative?

Every pregnancy is potentially at risk from being affected by a Neural Tube Defect (NTD). However, the majority of cases globally could be prevented with simple primary prevention measures. The IF Global Prevention Initiative (IFGPI) aims to tackle the primary prevention of NTDs and hydrocephalus as a united global community.

It’s goal is to unite all relevant organisations, NGOs, Governments, policy makers, health services, health professionals and individuals around the world to maximize the risk reduction of NTDs and hydrocephalus. The IFGPI is working towards WHO accreditation, with its aims being directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Watch this video for more in-depth information:

join the if Global prevention initiative

Fill out the form and join the IFGPI global community!

It will show your commitment to raising folic acid awareness, advocating for folic acid fortification, and highlighting the need for better preconception care and more research to help reduce the incidence of neural tube defects and hydrocephalus. Subscribe today!
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USE THE IFGPI LEAFLET “FOLIC ACID – WHAT EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE BECOMING PREGNANT”

We encourage to download, read, and share the leaflet “Folic acid – What every woman needs to know before becoming pregnant“, so this important information will reach women of childbearing age all over the world. If you are able to provide us with an official translation of the leaflet in your local language, then please email our Programme Manager Global Prevention.

You can also find the leaflet in Spanish, Italian, French , Turkish , Flemish and Dutch. More translations will be published in the coming weeks.

How the IFGPI will support its global community

The WHO Birth Defects Resolution, urged member states to increase their coverage of effective primary prevention measures (such as folic acid supplementation and/or fortification) and to develop expertise and build capacity on the prevention of birth defects. This WHO recommendation for priority action from the international community to ‘facilitate and support international networking on birth defect prevention and care programmes, with an emphasis on developing common approaches’ became the foundation for the development of the IFGPI.

With a coordinated global network and expert knowledge, the IFGPI will help to facilitate more effective global communications and knowledge sharing to further develop this expertise, enabling us to, ‘strengthen research and studies on etiology, diagnosis and prevention of major birth defects and to promote international cooperation in combating them.’

The IFGPI will help to support member states in developing national plans for implementation of effective interventions to prevent neural tube birth defects, including the development and delivery of effective folic acid awareness/prevention initiatives, education and food fortification strategies, in line with the aims of the World Health Organisation.

The IFGPI also aims to tackle the additional challenge of reducing known risks associated with hydrocephalus. The WHO has identified the need for a united approach if we are to maximise the potential risk reduction of NTDs.