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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
OCTOBER 2015
38
G
lobal health organisations warn of
the dangers of alcohol abuse during
pregnancy, as drinking can cause
a wide range of health problems that may
continue well into adulthood. Despite doctor
recommendations to abstain from alcohol
during pregnancy, however, in South Africa
drinking during pregnancy remains a prob-
lem. Employers can help to curb FASD by
implementing comprehensive and holistic
alcohol abuse programmes within their or-
ganisations, with a combination of effective
education and strict policies, backed up by
periodic testing for alcohol consumption.
In fact, statistics estimate that nearly one
million adults and children suffer the on-go-
ing effects of maternal alcohol consumption
during pregnancy. The most well known of
these is Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
(FASD), a term that covers a range of issues,
all of which are characterised by numerous
behavioural and developmental problems.
FASD is a lifelong illness, but is one that is
entirely preventable by limiting or eliminat-
ing alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Many women in South Africa are unaware of
the ill effects that their drinking has on their
baby as a result of lack of education.
FASD is most frequently the result of
heavy drinking or binge drinking every day
throughout pregnancy, which is sadly a real-
ity for many of those addicted to alcohol. The
condition often produces infants with mental
deficiencies as well as physical deformi-
ties, in particular of the head, face, limbs,
heart and central nervous system. Even if a
FASD – A PROBLEM
that employers can help
to address in the workplace
By Rhys Evans, Director of ALCO-Safe