Issued by: SA Communication Service
23 February 1998
Pretora - Following the initial success of its campaign against tobacco, the Department of Health is planning a similar campaign to inform the public, especially pregnant women, of the dangers of the abuse of alcohol.
This campaign comes in the wake of the publication of research results from a pilot study which showed that 15% of children born in the Western Cape had signs of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). This syndrome, found in babies whose mothers drank excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, is a very serious condition as it is usually accompanied by mental retardation due to the effects of alcohol on the developing brain.
"Babies with the syndrome are born with physical disorders, especially of their facial structures" said Ms. Onica Maphai, Deputy Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse of the Department of Health. "The babies are usually also slow to learn and this syndrome affects them throughout their lives" she added.
It is in response to this very serious problem that the Department of Health has decided to embark on an extensive information and education campaign to inform the public of the syndrome and to discourage the excessive abuse of alcohol, especially amongst pregnant women. The campaign would take different forms in the various provinces, with the publication of posters and pamphlet and messages on national and community radio stations. The Department of Health is also considering the labelling of alcohol containers with messages informing the public of the dangers of the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
The Department of Health is formulating policy guidelines for the prevention and treatment of the syndrome which enable service providers to help women whose babies are in danger of being born with the syndrome.