Our vision

A society that guarantees the human rights of all people born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and practices primary prevention of neural tube defects.

Register now

Register to join the 31st International Conference on Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus taking place in Montréal, Québec, Canada, on 15-17 October 2026.

WFAAW webinar

You are invited! Our champions on food fortification policies will offer their perspectives, and expert advice for a healthier, stronger, and smarter future for all.

Latest news

17 January 2026

IF President participates in IDA's General Assembly in Bangkok

This week in Bangkok, Thailand, IF President is taking part in the International Disability Alliance (IDA) General Assembly, a key global forum for advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.
12 January 2026

Mandatory food fortification reduces NTDs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Published in Frontiers in Public Health, this article examines the impact of mandatory staple food fortification with folic acid in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and forms part of a collaboration between IF and the WHO EMRO.
6 January 2026

Partnering for Impact: Advancing Folic Acid Food Fortification in Latin America

On 6 January 2026, IF, through its Global Prevention Initiative, hosted a regional webinar titled “Partnering for Impact: Advancing Folic Acid Food Fortification in Latin America”.
22 November 2025

IF International Youth Group SBH: Reflecting and looking ahead

2025 has been a powerful reminder of the importance of youth leadership and global solidarity among young people living with SBH. As the Youth Group, we dedicated our efforts to understanding and amplifying the voices of our community, especially around mental health, identity, and disability acceptance.

Discover our work

Prevention

Tackling the primary prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs) and hydrocephalus as a united global community.

Right to health

Fighting for access to affordable multidisciplinary healthcare for people with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and their families.

Raising awareness

Fostering inclusion, respect, and stronger rights for persons with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus through awareness-raising.

World SBH Day

Established in 2011 to celebrate achievements and accelerate global action for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

Human Rights

Protecting human rights and promoting living with dignity, access to essential services, and full participation in society.

Community Building

Building bridges and empowering national Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus associations to advocate for our rights.

Our members

IF’s fast-growing membership now includes over 100 Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) associations in Africa, Australia, the Americas, Asia and Europe. Membership of IF is open to all nationally registered SBH associations that share IF’s vision and mission and actively involve people with SBH in their work. Organisations, institutions, companies and individuals with an interest in SBH and the aim to widen the extent of their activities are also welcome to apply for IF membership. Check out our Membership Guide to learn more!

Please note that this map also displays SBH associations that are not a member of IF. They are represented by a red dot. If you know of an SBH association not represented below, please email us at [email protected].