In an attempt to help curb the spread of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the City of Cape Town is expanding its free testing, screening and growth monitoring services to all city clinics.
The strategy also known as "Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted" was announced on Wednesday, South Africa's National FAS Day, by Deputy Mayor Grant Haskin.
"FAS is completely preventable if only both parents of unborn children, particularly the moms-to-be, understood the damage they are doing to their babies and made the informed decision to abstain from alcohol for the duration of the pregnancy," Haskin said.
"It's a lifelong and irreversible disability."
The Western Cape has one of the highest rate of babies born with FAS in the world. The syndrome affects 24 000 South African babies every year.
And out of every 1 000 children in the Western Cape, 88 are living with FAS, while in the Northern Cape the figure per 1 000 is 122. In the United States the figure is fewer than one child in every 1 000.
The syndrome is caused by the mother's consumption of alcohol while pregnant, preventing the brain of the foetus from developing properly.
The physical and mental damage can include attention deficit disorder, low IQ level, facial deformities, immune system malfunctioning, memory loss and low birth weight.
At any given time, 500 000 South Africans suffer from FAS disorders.
"The Western Cape has the highest level of youth binge drinking, 34 percent, where the national average is 23 percent," Haskin said. Cape Town has a 24/7 toll free Alcohol and Drug helpline: 0800435748.
- Cape Times
The strategy also known as "Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted" was announced on Wednesday, South Africa's National FAS Day, by Deputy Mayor Grant Haskin.
"FAS is completely preventable if only both parents of unborn children, particularly the moms-to-be, understood the damage they are doing to their babies and made the informed decision to abstain from alcohol for the duration of the pregnancy," Haskin said.
"It's a lifelong and irreversible disability."
The Western Cape has one of the highest rate of babies born with FAS in the world. The syndrome affects 24 000 South African babies every year.
And out of every 1 000 children in the Western Cape, 88 are living with FAS, while in the Northern Cape the figure per 1 000 is 122. In the United States the figure is fewer than one child in every 1 000.
The syndrome is caused by the mother's consumption of alcohol while pregnant, preventing the brain of the foetus from developing properly.
The physical and mental damage can include attention deficit disorder, low IQ level, facial deformities, immune system malfunctioning, memory loss and low birth weight.
At any given time, 500 000 South Africans suffer from FAS disorders.
"The Western Cape has the highest level of youth binge drinking, 34 percent, where the national average is 23 percent," Haskin said. Cape Town has a 24/7 toll free Alcohol and Drug helpline: 0800435748.
- Cape Times
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