Pregnant women should be barred by law from drinking alcohol, provincial deputy director-general Dr Joey Cupido has said. (From IOL)
His call for legislation prohibiting pregnant women from drinking alcohol came during Cupido's address an event designed to raise awareness on World Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day.
From a human rights perspective, Cupido said, "the tap has to be turned off".
The rights of the baby had to be considered and, just as people practised safe sex because they feared HIV infection, so too should pregnant women take responsibility for their children's health.
"The mother needs to be responsible for that baby she is carrying.
"The child's rights in that instance would supersede the rights of the individual," Cupido said.
Just as it was a criminal offence to smoke in a car while transporting a child younger than 12, so too should it be a criminal offence to drink alcohol while pregnant.
"It must be legislated. Women should be prohibited from drinking (while pregnant) by law," he said.
Thursday's gathering, hosted by the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FAS) Task Team, followed an interfaith service at St George's Cathedral on World FAS Day, marked annually on September 9.
FAS is associated with severe mental disability and stunted physical growth.
It is estimated that 25 000 babies are born with FAS in South Africa each year, the highest reported incidence in the world.
Rural areas in the Western Cape area hardest hit by the disorder.
Health department spokesperson Faiza Steyn said that Cupido had been speaking in his personal capacity.
"The department does caution pregnant women not to consume alcohol as it is not good for the health and well-being of the unborn baby, or for themselves," she said.
The department had various health programmes in place to assist in minimising the impact of FAS. (And none of them seem to be working)
His call for legislation prohibiting pregnant women from drinking alcohol came during Cupido's address an event designed to raise awareness on World Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day.
From a human rights perspective, Cupido said, "the tap has to be turned off".
The rights of the baby had to be considered and, just as people practised safe sex because they feared HIV infection, so too should pregnant women take responsibility for their children's health.
"The mother needs to be responsible for that baby she is carrying.
"The child's rights in that instance would supersede the rights of the individual," Cupido said.
Just as it was a criminal offence to smoke in a car while transporting a child younger than 12, so too should it be a criminal offence to drink alcohol while pregnant.
"It must be legislated. Women should be prohibited from drinking (while pregnant) by law," he said.
Thursday's gathering, hosted by the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FAS) Task Team, followed an interfaith service at St George's Cathedral on World FAS Day, marked annually on September 9.
FAS is associated with severe mental disability and stunted physical growth.
It is estimated that 25 000 babies are born with FAS in South Africa each year, the highest reported incidence in the world.
Rural areas in the Western Cape area hardest hit by the disorder.
Health department spokesperson Faiza Steyn said that Cupido had been speaking in his personal capacity.
"The department does caution pregnant women not to consume alcohol as it is not good for the health and well-being of the unborn baby, or for themselves," she said.
The department had various health programmes in place to assist in minimising the impact of FAS. (And none of them seem to be working)
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