Just News|
Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will on Wednesday,1 September 2021, launch the 9-9-9 Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) campaign to educate communities about dangers associated with alcohol drinking while pregnant and breastfeeding.
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is a preventable condition that impacts negatively on unborn babies as a result of alcohol intake by mothers during pregnancy. This condition also causes mental and physical life-long problems for unborn babies when mothers consume alcohol while pregnant and when breastfeeding.
Women who drink alcohol when they are pregnant run the risk of giving birth to unhealthy babies because of alcohol which is transferred through the mother’s blood and passes it on to the unborn baby through the placenta.
The campaign will be launched as an interactive dialogue wherein various sectors comprising of among others, pregnant women, youth, parents of children with FAS disorder, tavern and shebeen owners and traditional leaders. This initiative affords community members to exchange views on how to prevent Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and its impact on children.
The 9-9-9 campaign, which will run throughout 9 consecutive days ending on the 9th of September, is commemorated every year as International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day. The day seeks to raise awareness by educating all citizens about this condition.
