The dangers of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder are in the spotlight, with the deputy minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, crisscrossing the country as part of the Department’s nine-day education campaign, covering nine provinces.

FASD is a leading source of non-genetic developmental and intellectual disability globally and is usually associated with primary and secondary disabilities.

South Africa has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have the highest reported prevalence of FASD in the world.

FASD is thought to affect at least 3 million of the South African population, and yet it is 100% preventable.

Preventing Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

FASD is a preventable condition which impacts negatively on unborn babies as a result of alcohol intake by mothers during pregnancy. This condition also causes mental and physical life-long problems for unborn babies as a result of the mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy run the risk of giving birth to unhealthy babies because the alcohol is transferred through the mother’s blood and passed it on to the unborn baby through the placenta.

FASD can cause problems with:

• movement, balance, vision and hearing
• learning, such as problems with thinking, concentration, and memory
• managing emotions and developing social skills
• hyperactivity and impulse control
• communication, such as problems with speech
• the joints, muscles, bones, and organs, such as the kidneys and heart

These problems are permanent, though early treatment and support can help limit their impact on a child’s life. Read more here.

Read more: Protecting your child’s health Post Covid-19

FASD in the Spotlight

The campaign was launched on 1 September as an interactive dialogue where various sectors, comprising the Beer Association of South Africa, pregnant women, youth, parents of children with FASD, tavern and shebeen owners and traditional leaders participate.

This initiative affords community members to exchange views on how to prevent FASD to protect children.

The campaign will run until 9 September, which is International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day aimed at raising awareness and educating all citizens about this condition.

The Department of Social Development is the lead department in the coordination and implementation of the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP) which is aimed at achieving a drug-free society for the benefit of all South Africans.

The Department also has a role to implement programmes preventing alcohol-related social ills including; gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, HIV and Aids.

The campaign comes to the Western Cape on Saturday 3 September, hosted at the Stellenbosch Town Hall from 08:30.

Support for women

The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) is the leading NGO source of research and information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), and the most severe form of this disorder, namely Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in South Africa.

Since 1997, FARR has been dedicated to building positive futures in South African communities by significantly reducing birth defects and mental disabilities caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

FARR can also be contacted at info@farrsa.org.za or 021 686 2646 for guidance on where to seek help.