Women in labour so intoxicated they do not know they are giving birth, children fed alcohol to keep them quiet, and low grade wine cheaper than bread.
These are realities in South Africa, the country with the worst foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the world.
”It is estimated that in the Cape metropole one in 10 children attending grade one classes in our schools have FAS. It is also estimated that about 25% of women attending antenatal clinics are heavy drinkers,” said Ronnie Jurgens, human genetics co-ordinator at the provincial administration.
Jurgens was one of several experts, community workers and parents who attended an awareness-raising function on FAS at the Karl Bremer hospital on Thursday to mark World Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day.
According to Jurgens the history of FAS in the Western Cape region, and to a lesser extent the Northern Cape, can be traced back to European colonisation and the introduction of the notorious dop system — where workers were paid for their labour with alcohol.
Jurgens said not enough was being done by the alcohol industry and government to combat the FAS scourge, with a multi-disciplinary and cross-departmental approach needed.
”Everybody is passing the buck,” she said.
Jurgens suggested the industry should stop advertising alcohol and making it look attractive, particularly to teenagers. The industry should also label bottles with warnings, and shebeens should draw up a code of conduct compelling them not to sell alcohol to pregnant mothers.
While noting that the country had other socio-economic priorities, such as housing and HIV/Aids, Jurgens said FAS cost the country billions in institutionalising and imprisoning children, medical care, special schooling and occupational therapy.
The government was not spending enough on combating the ”100%” preventable FAS. Jurgens claimed that ”not a cent” was allocated from the provincial and metropolitan health departments to fight FAS in the region.
Pierre-Jean Gerber, an African National Congress member of Parliament and active in the wine industry, said the effects of alcohol abuse were ”mind-boggling”.
Gerber said he was one of the first to start labelling his wines with a discreet warning about the effects of alcoholism, but the industry as a whole was lagging behind.
”I don’t think there is a lack of commitment, I think that they need some of the major players, like KWV, to lead them and engage with others,” said Gerber.
Gerber said some companies were already labelling their bottles, but only for the export market.
”Are we thinking more of overseas people’s health than our own people?” he asked.
Peter and Vivien Lourens, whose eight-year-old adopted daughter Tisha rang a bell as part of a global bell-ringing to raise FAS awareness, told of some of the ordeals they had to contend with in raising their daughter since she was 10-weeks-old.
”The biggest problem is learning disability, with Tisha aged eight-and-a-half having the ability of a girl in pre-primary,” said Peter of his daughter, a knee-high girl weighing just 13kg.
Mother Vivien said Tisha’s social skills were good but she still had problems with basic things, such as putting on her shoes and distinguishing colours. – Sapa