Parents living with Children suffering from Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus have been urged not to hide them at home.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir said there is need for creating awareness and seeking help for the victims.

Speaking on Saturday while flagging off the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus awareness walk, Nassir revealed that there are plans to start a special program for treatment, shunt at the Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus centre in Likoni .

"We are working on starting the special shunt procedure which drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and I want to make sure that this will be performed permanently here at our facility. We already have donors who have shown interest in supporting us towards achieving this" said Nassir.

Adding" My special appeal is to the parents living with children suffering from this disease to stop hiding them in the houses and instead come out and seek help, members of the public should also stop the myth about this disease, linking it to witch craft".

His sentiments were echoed by the county Woman representative Zamzam Mohammed who called out on well wishers to come out and support the county government and other stakeholders in creating awareness for the disease.

"It is good that we all come out and support children living with this disease, they are all our children and as the Women representative I will do my best to support such initiatives inside and outside parliament."

Spina bifida is part of a group of birth defects called neural tube defects while Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain, also called 'water in the brain'.