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Folic acid is
a B vitamin that occurs naturally in the foods we eat every
day. If taken before conception and up to the twelfth week
of pregnancy it can help to protect unborn babies against
conditions such as spina bifida and other neural tube defects
(NTDs).
In 1998 the HPA
was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Services
to develop a public information campaign to highlight the
importance of folic acid. The campaign 'Folic acid - one of
life's essentials', was launched in October that year.
An evaluation of the campaign showed it to be very successful
in raising awareness of folic acid and its benefits among
the target group.
In November 2000
the first all-island public information campaign was launched
by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety,
Ms Bairbre de Brún and the Minister for Health and
Children, in the Republic of Ireland, Micheál Martin TD
to raise awareness of folic acid.
In October 2001
the HPA's public information campaign on folic acid reached
the finals of the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Management
Awards. From hundreds of entries from across the UK, the campaign
was shortlisted to the final three in the Award's communications
category.
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