Saint Mary's Health Network won a
$15,000 grant from the March of
Dimes to help potential parents learn
about the benefits of folic acid in preventing
birth defects.
The program also will make folic
acid available to patients through the
Saint Mary's Nell J. Redfield and Sun
Valley Clinics as well as Nevada Rural
Health Clinics.
Educational materials will be distributed
in English and Spanish, and educational
programs will target healthcare
providers and at-risk women.
Folic acid deficiency may result in
damage to the neural tube, the precursor
to the brain and spinal cord.
Because the neural tube develops so
early in pregnancy, damage can occur
before a woman knows she is pregnant.
St. Mary's recently completed another
project funded by March of Dimes.
The health system undertook a newborn
nutrition program at its Nell J.
Redfield Health Center on Neil Road.
