By Wilson Oganan | May 20, 2026
SOROTI — Health workers in Soroti District have undergone specialized training on the safe handling and care of children living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in a move aimed at improving health services and promoting inclusive healthcare for children with disabilities.
The training was organized by the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda (SHAU) at Lukiiko Hall in Soroti District. The engagement brought together health workers from various health facilities to reflect on the progress, challenges, and possible solutions for improving the lives of children affected by the two conditions.
Speaking during the training, SHAU Coordinator Jackline Atimisibwe said the initiative was intended to strengthen inclusive education, healthcare services, and human rights advocacy for children living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
According to Atimisibwe, many children living with the conditions continue to face stigma, neglect, and discrimination from sections of society, including some parents and family members.
She expressed concern that some fathers abandon or reject children born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus due to negative beliefs and misconceptions surrounding the conditions.
“Some parents, especially men, still have the wrong attitude toward children living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Many children are neglected or denied attention simply because of their condition,” Atimisibwe said.
She urged parents and communities to stop referring to children born with the conditions as curses, emphasizing that they deserve equal love, care, and opportunities like any other child.
“We call upon parents to desist from calling these children a curse. They are human beings who deserve support, care, and protection,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Soroti District Environmental Health Officer Emmanuel Ekodeu acknowledged that children living with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida often miss out on proper healthcare services due to infrastructure challenges and limited knowledge among some health workers.
Ekodeu admitted that many health facilities are not fully equipped to adequately handle children with disabilities, which sometimes affects service delivery.
“There are situations where children with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida miss out on health services because of the setup of some health facilities and the knowledge gap among health workers,” he noted.
He urged health workers to ensure that children living with the conditions are treated equally whenever they visit health facilities for illnesses unrelated to their disabilities.
“We should always treat these children for any diseases they present with and avoid discrimination because of their condition,” Ekodeu emphasized.
Health workers who attended the training welcomed the initiative, saying it had equipped them with important knowledge and skills on handling children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
Immaculate Asio, a Health Assistant at Ojom Health Centre II, appreciated SHAU for organizing the training and said the knowledge gained would help health workers provide better care and support to affected children.
“This training is very important because it has helped us understand how to effectively handle and care for children living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus,” Asio said.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts by SHAU and health stakeholders to improve awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen access to inclusive health services for children living with disabilities across Uganda.
