November 19, 2025 | House of Peoples’ Representatives, Addis Ababa
Accelerating National Action for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
On November 19, 2025, Ethiopia marked World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) Day with its second-ever parliamentary commemoration at the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The landmark gathering brought together more than 300 parliamentarians, alongside government leaders, representatives from ministries, development partners, members of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus community, and other key stakeholders.
The commemoration provided an important national platform to recognize Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus not only as neurological conditions, but as significant public health, disability, and social development priorities requiring coordinated and sustained action.
Bringing SBH to the National Policy Agenda
The parliamentary session highlighted the need to strengthen Ethiopia’s response across the full continuum—from prevention and early intervention to lifelong care, rehabilitation, and inclusion.
Participants emphasized several areas requiring continued national attention.
Strengthening prevention was identified as a critical priority, particularly through food fortification, folic acid supplementation, and improved preconception care. Effective prevention strategies can play an important role in reducing the burden of neural tube defects and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of improving access to healthcare and rehabilitation for children and individuals living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Access to appropriate medical care, rehabilitation, assistive devices, continence management, and other essential services can significantly improve quality of life for affected individuals and their families.
The Importance of Multi-Sectoral Action
The challenges associated with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus extend beyond the health sector. Prevention, care, education, disability inclusion, social protection, and community support require collaboration across multiple sectors.
The parliamentary commemoration therefore emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, with Parliament playing a central role in strengthening policy attention, accountability, and national commitment.
Bringing these issues into the parliamentary space creates an opportunity to connect the lived experiences of affected families with national policy and decision-making.
Accelerate Action for SBH
The 2025 commemoration was guided by the global slogan:
“Accelerate Action for SBH.”
The message reflected the urgency of moving beyond awareness toward concrete and sustained action.
For HOPE-SBH, the parliamentary commemoration represented an important step in advancing national dialogue around Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and strengthening the visibility of the challenges faced by affected children, young people, and families.
The participation of parliamentarians, government institutions, development partners, and the SBH community demonstrated the importance of bringing diverse voices together to address the issue.
Continuing the Commitment
World SBH Day provides an opportunity to recognize progress, but it also serves as a reminder of the work that remains.
Ethiopia’s continued progress will depend on sustained investment in prevention, accessible and quality care, rehabilitation, education, disability inclusion, and support for families—supported by strong coordination and accountability across sectors.
HOPE-SBH remains committed to working with government, partners, communities, and people affected by Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus to advance prevention, strengthen care and support, and promote a more inclusive society.
The parliamentary commemoration was more than a celebration—it was a call to accelerate action and turn national commitment into lasting change for people affected by Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
