Alcohol in the womb destroys a baby's potential
2009-09-17
GROENHEUWEL PRIMARY was one of 90 schools in the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape that participated in the World Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Day campaign on 9 September. FASfacts, a non-governmental organisation working to educate and raise awareness on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), hosted the event which was attended by Premier Helen Zille, Dr Ivan Meyer (MEC for Social Development), Charmaine Manuel (Mayor of Paarl) and Gerrit van Rensburg (Western Cape MEC of Agriculture). World Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day is held each year at nine minutes past nine on the ninth day of the ninth month to draw attention to the fact that women shoud not drink alcohol for the duration of their pregnancy. Across the different time zones of the world, bells ring out to raise to awareness of this preventable condition. An estimated 25 000 babies are born with FAS every year in South Africa. South Africa has the highest frequency of FAS reported in one population anywhere in the world. The prevalence of FAS in countries such as America varies from 0,1 to 0,8%, whereas in South Africa FAS is as high as 12,2% in some areas. The prevalence rate of Foetal Alcohol Exposure is far higher even than the recorded FAS rate (between three to five times higher). FAS is the largest cause of mental retardation in most industrial nations. It is also found amongst all races and across all socio-economic groups. Alcohol during pregnancy, regardless of quantity, can cause permanent brain damage. FAS is 100% preventable, but there is no cure.
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