The President of the March of Dimes, Dr. Jennifer Howse, along with other international experts visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian counterparts. The Ukrainian Alliance for the Prevention of Birth Defects is now growing. The members include leading Ukrainian Medical Geneticists and experts in Obstetrics, Neonatology, Pediatrics and other health care disciplines. Birth Defects Surveillance Programs are emerging in the Rivne and Volyn Regions as parts of the Ukrainian-American Birth Defects Program . Some Facts Broadly defined, birth defects are functional or structural anomalies resulting from environmental or genetic alterations acting upon a fetus.
Birth defects can manifest at any age.
Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality, developmental disabilities and mental subnormality. Micronutrients are effective birth defects prevention agents. Folic Acid prevents spina bifida and other malformations. Iodine prevents mental subnormality. The above birth defects prevention agents are often lacking in Ukraine.