World Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) 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 should not drink alcohol for nine months whilst pregnant. Each time zone across the world rings their bells at that time to raise awareness of this preventable condition. The alcohol the mother drinks enters the unborn baby’s bloodstream causing damage to the fetus. Such damage is permanent and irreversible. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) children will have physical and intellectual problems.
ADVANCE NOTICE: FAS CONFERENCE
The Provincial Department of Health in partnership with the Departments of Education, Social Services and NGO’s, is organizing a FASD Conference at the Sport Science Centre in Newlands in Cape Town on 6 and 7 October 2005. The aim of the conference is to bridge the gap between research and service delivery.
“Babies thrive on love not alcohol”
BASIC HEALTH MESSAGES
- Stop drinking alcohol if you are thinking of falling pregnant.
- Stop drinking alcohol if you are pregnant.
- If you cannot stop, drink less and seek professional help.
- Whatever the mother drinks so does the unborn baby.
- Alcohol harms unborn babies who will need special care all their lives because they could suffer from physical defects, abnormal facial anomalies and be mentally challenged.
- Do not fall pregnant if you drink alcohol. Use contraceptives correctly.
Ronnie Jurgens, the Metropole Human Genetics Co-ordinator said, “We need to remember that if a mother does not drink alcohol during pregnancy then that baby will not get FASD. No amount of alcohol is safe to an unborn baby.”
FAS Enquiries
Ronnie Jurgens
021 918 1585
Maureen McCrea
021 918 1708
