By Faith Lanyero
Gulu: A couple in Pece Vanguard, Laroo-Pece Division in Gulu City is in shock and traumatized after giving birth to a child with encephalocele compilation condition.
Sharon Lakaraber, (27) and her husband Morish Ogenrwot gave birth to the child on Thursday last week at Aywer Health Centre III in Gulu City. The baby and the mother were later referred to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Neonatal Intensive care unit for better management.
Speaking to TheSpy Uganda in an interview, Lakeraber said she is still traumatised after giving birth to her fourth child [baby girl] with that strange condition that requires a lot of money for better management.
Dr. Florence Oyella Otim, a Pediatrician at Neonatal Ward says the deformity comes when the mother fails to take folic acid which helps so much in the development of babies while still in the womb.
According to Oyella, such birth defect occurs early in a woman’s pregnancy when part of the baby’s skull does not close all the way, leaving part of the baby’s brain to come through the hole in the skull.
“Sometimes, part of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) also come through the hole in the skull,” said Dr Oyella.
Meanwhile, by the time we filed this, Dr.Oyella had informed us that the hospital is working closely with AVSI Uganda to take the child for specialized treatment at Cure Children Center In Mbale City for further management.
What Is Encephalocele
Encephalocele is a rare form of neural tube defect which is characterized by the herniation of brain tissue through a congenital defect in the skull.
