Alcohol intake dangerous to foetus development
Research has established that alcohol consumption by women in their reproductive age can result in their unborn babies having permanent mental disorders.
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Alcohol consumption by pregnant women before and during pregnancy can also result in the babies having disabilities such as autism.
Speaking at an international conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Accra, the outgoing Deputy Minister of Women, Gender and Social Protection, Mrs Benita Okity-Duah, said FASD was an urgent health concern which must be brought to the attention of all to ensure a collaborative effort to curtail it.
She said the ministry was working to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities who faced challenges such as unequal access to education, employment and difficulty in gaining entry into public buildings were guaranteed.
National awareness on FASD The conference was put together by the Ghana Organisation of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (GOFAS), with support from the Australian High Commission in Ghana. It sought to stimulate and create a national awareness on FASD and Alcohol Related Neurological Disorder (ARND) in Ghana.
The conference, which was on the theme: “Protecting the Unborn Child: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, a collective National Responsibility” was also to raise awareness and provide a forum for learning and exchanges between international experts, Ghanaian practitioners and policy makers.
Dr Michael Baffoe, the conference’s Programme Coordinator, noted that alcohol consumption by pregnant women or women of child-bearing age could have a negative impact on the unborn child, or when delivered, the child could be disabled for life.
“Our task and objective with this initiative is to provide information that can assist women, their families and communities to make informed decisions to prevent life-time damages and disability to children”, he said.
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Australian government’s effort
The Australian High Commissioner, Ms Joanna Adamson, in an address said FASD was the leading preventable cause of non-genetic, developmental disability in Australia.
The Australian Government, she said, was therefore committed to reducing the dangers caused by taking alcohol during pregnancy and has therefore made significant investment over many years to improve the understanding of everyday Australians about FASD.
She said there was the need to also educate people on FASD and the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Permanent damage
The Chief Executive Officer of GOFAS, Ms Regina Amanobea Dodoo, expressed regret and said “ in this country we prefer to sponsor and support all kinds of entertainment and sporting events but when it comes to critical issues affecting the welfare and health of the very vulnerable section of our population, we tend either to look the other way, or regard them as unimportant,” she added.
According to her, all available information showed that once the baby’s brain and other features are damaged while it is in the womb, due to alcohol intake by its mother, it becomes disabled permanently.
“We are therefore appealing to you all to carry this simple message far and wide to your homes, families and communities; when you are pregnant do not drink alcohol, because when you drink, the baby drinks too and the effect is irreversible,” she added.
She said she single-handedly launched the initiative in 2007 and since then the issue had been an almost lonely journey and struggle.
According to her, on a number of occasions she had succeeded in getting the support of a few public officials and the public to drive the initiative.