Save your unborn child and abstain from liquor

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a harsh reality, which affects babies who are born to women who drink.

In an attempt to raise awareness about the syndrome, September 9 has been earmarked as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day.

Nokwanda Zondo, a social worker for South African National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA), said the issue of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was a bigger issue than people would imagine.

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“South Africa was recently identified as one of the countries with the highest rate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.”

Fetal alcohol syndrome materialises either through a child suffering from physical deformities or being mentally impaired.

This is normally due to women drinking while pregnant. However, the syndrome can also be linked to men who drink a lot.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is only pregnant women who drink can cause the syndrome. However, alcohol weakens a man’s sperm and can also cause a baby to suffer from the disorder.”

Hoping to minimise the odds of people being born with the syndrome, Ms Zondo is encouraging people to refrain from drinking when they were planning to have children.

“There have been incidents when a pregnant woman and her partner drink but the child was born fine. But, you should not risk your child’s life.”

SANCA is running a programme where its staff and volunteers assist women and men who wish to stop drinking when they would like to start a family.

SANCA can be contacted on 034 312 3641.

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