Boozing babies suffer
2005-09-29
WELLINGTON has a community worker exclusively to address the high incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) caused by mothers drinking while pregnant.
Jeanne-Maré Bosch has been appointed by the Wellington Wine Producers to lead the project. She will focus on prevention through education programmes for the affected communities.
The Wellington Wine Producers Educational Trust will fund her salary. An interim committee with experts, community leaders and wine producers will help develop prevention initiatives.
Research conducted amongst grade one learners in Wellington schools between 1997 and 2001 revealed the highest incidence of this syndrome in the world.
Between four to eight per 100 learners was diagnosed with FAS.
According to the research the poor scholastic progress of many other children who were not diagnosed, can also be directly linked to their mothers drinking during pregnancy.
For every one child diagnosed with FAS, three to four other also experience learning problems due to their mothers’ drinking, meaning that in some classes up to a third of the children are affected.
The syndrome can be recognised by facial characteristics, growth retardation, intellectual and behaviour difficulties.
“FAS is preventable. Mothers should just stop drinking during pregnancy. But this is easier said than done,” says Jeanne-Maré.
The wine industry plays a critical role in the economy of Wellington, with a big part of the rural population involved.
The drinking culture is the result of outdated labour practices such as the ‘dop’ system, and is fuelled by low levels of education and poverty.
This committee is launching a non-profit organisation, Ripples, that will focus on FAS prevention work in the broader community.
Jeanne-Maré can contacted on 873-4604.
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