Folic acid to prevent diseases in Mexican babies

• April 26, 2024

The Secretary of Health, José Ángel Córdova Villalobos , formally inaugurated, on April 4, 2011, the activities of the program "Prevention of Birth Disability"And the campaign"I prevent disability, I take folic acid", With which women of childbearing age are invited to ingest this nutrient to avoid the defects of the neural tube in the newborn

At the beginning of this strategy, which will be supported by foundations, civil society organizations and private initiative, the Health Secretary pointed out that the purpose is to reduce the risk of a baby being born with some problem that can be avoided, such as neural tube defects, which include spina bifida , anencephaly and encephalocele, which represent the first preventable congenital malformation.

He insisted on the need for the intake of folic acid at least before pregnancy and during the first three months of pregnancy, since with this measure 70% of the cases of defects of the neural tube . According to the midway survey conducted by the Health Secretary about the use of folic acid, it has taken 98% of the pregnant women and 78% of those who are in reproductive age .

He explained that the intake of folic acid decreases or eliminates the risk of problems in babies, however, even the diet balanced is insufficient to provide this nutrient, so it is granted with some foods such as tortilla or through the free distribution in jars with 30 tablets.

Video Medicine: Folic Acid in the Prevention of Birth Defects (April 2024).