Central SA
Minister leads health campaign in North West─── LUCKY NKUYANE 13:33 Mon, 05 Sep 2022
The Deputy Minister of Social Development Department today lead a campaign which highlights the dangers of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) in Rustenburg, North West.
Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu was accompanied by the MEC of Health in the province, Madoda Sambatha, and Social Development MEC Boitumelo Moiloa on Day 5 of the “9-9-9 Campaign”.
The campaign will shed light on the adverse effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
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According to national Social Development spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, the campaign was launched as an interactive dialogue between various stakeholders, including the Beer Association of South Africa, pregnant women, youth, parents of children with the disorder, tavern and shebeen owners and traditional leaders. Oliphant says the initiative affords community members the opportunity to exchange views on how to protect children.
“For nine days across nine provinces the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will be crisscrossing the country - educating South Africans about the dangers of FASD. FASD is a leading source of non-genetic developmental and intellectual disability globally and is usually associated with primary and secondary disabilities. South Africa has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have the highest reported prevalence of FASD in the world,” she adds.
The department says the disorder is a preventable condition which impacts negatively on unborn children as a result of alcohol intake by mothers during pregnancy. It says this condition also causes life-long mental and physical problems for unborn children as a result of the mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
“Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy run the risk of giving birth to unhealthy babies because the alcohol is transferred through the mother’s blood and passes it on to the unborn baby through the placenta,” Oliphant further adds.
The 9-9-9 campaign, will run for 9 consecutive days ending on the 9th of September, which is International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day, is aimed at raising awareness and educating all citizens about this condition.
The Department of Social Development is the lead department in the coordination and implementation of the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP) which is aimed at achieving a drug-free society for the benefit of all South Africans.
