The Project's activities are directed to women who had NTD pregnancies since 2001. For the period of the Project realization 217 such women received 81190 folic acid pills (1 mg dosage) for free (Table 5). Folic acid was given for the Project realization by the Ukrainian Alliance for the Prevention of Birth Defects. Besides, each woman was consulted by a medical geneticist, who explained the role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects recurrence. The work with women is held according to approved "Examination protocol of a woman from NTD recurrence risk group". Each woman received set of informational materials (217 sets) about folic acid and neural tube defects (flyers, fact sheets, "Geno-Terato-Epi-Tome" copies, etc). The further control of women is provided by obstetricians from Family Planning Centers.

Table 5

Folic acid, received by women from NTD recurrence risk group
in oblasts-participants of the UABDP

During their visit to Volyn, Rivne and Kherson Oblasts in June, 2003 Prof. Wladimir Wertelecki (Ukrainian-American Birth Defects Program Director, Chair of the University of South Alabama Department of Medical Genetics (Mobil, USA), Secretary-Treasurer of the World Alliance of Organizations for the Prevention of Birth Defects), Prof. Kenneth Jones (Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of the Dysmorphology and Teratology Department of the University of California Medical School, San Diego, USA), Prof. Christina Chambers (epidemiologist, Departments of Pediatrics and Family and Preventive Medicine of the University of California (San Diego, USA) and Prof. Andrew Hull (obstetrician and gynecologist with specialization in medicine of the fetus and mother of the University of California (San Diego, USA) discussed the questions of preparation to implementation of the Pilot Project "Prenatal Ultrasound Markers of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Ukraine".

More than 400 physicians participated in the seminars and trainings.

Volunteers' activities are based on the emotional contacts and developmental education

The work of volunteers is accented on emotional communication and developmental education. The results of the Program in this field were highly appreciated by Mrs. V. Parkhomenko, Chief Specialist of Child and Maternity Medical Care Department of the Health Care Ministry of Ukraine during the her visit to the Lutsk Orphanage (September, 2003).

In October 2003 students of Lutsk Medical College also joined the Early Stimulation Project. On October 22 there was conducted the first training of volunteers from the College "Malyatko" Club. 23 students and 2 teachers were present at the training. Besides, we also invited 11 speech therapists and defectologists from the Volyn children's facilities and a professor of defectology from the Volyn State University.

In December 19, 2003 all orphans from the Rivne and Lutsk Orphanages received gifts (photo albums with their own photos, toys and candies) from the students-volunteers on Saint Nicholas Day. These photo albums made a deep impression on children and orphanages staff, because each child received a personal thing for the first time in his or her life. We are planning to add new photos to these albums.

Now each child in Lutsk and Rivne orphanages has a photo album with photos

In Neonatal Departments of the Khmelnytsky City Children's Hospital in collaboration with specialists from the Regional Rehabilitation Center "Turbota" and students from the Khmelnytsky Medical College a hospital level of early mental stimulation of orphans and hospitalism overcoming is realized. The same work is provided in Neonatal Center of the Volyn Regional Children's Territorial Medical Center.

The Ukrainian-American Birth Defects Program, Association of Special Needs Children Parents initiated the creation of Rivne Early Pedagogical Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation Center for Children with Special Needs "Pahinets" under the support of Rivne Mayor Mr. V. Chayka. (grand opening took place in January 19, 2004).

Opening of the Rivne Early Pedagogical Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation Center for Children with Special Needs "Pahinets" Mrs. Svitlana Bohatyrchuk-Kryvko, Mayor Assistant on Social and Humanitarian Matters and Mr. Valyntyn Kroka, Chief Assistant of Rivne Oblast Council (left). Symbolic sprout of hope for children with special needs (right).

Information specialists of the OMNI-Center Network started the translation of one of the best programs in the world concerning early intervention - "Small steps" (Macquaire University, Australia). Alliance for the Prevention of Birth Defects received a copyright for the translation and adaptation of this program in Ukraine.