Gauteng Social Development Strengthens Prevention Efforts to Protect Unborn Children from the Effects of Alcohol
As the world observes Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Day on 9 September, the Gauteng Department of Social Development is strengthening its call for communities to prevent alcohol-related harm to unborn children and to support families affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
FASD is a lifelong condition associated with alcohol exposure during pregnancy and can affect a child’s physical development, learning, behaviour and ability to function independently. The condition is preventable, making awareness, early intervention and support for women, children and families an important part of the fight against alcohol-related social ills. For the Gauteng Department of Social Development, the observance is not an isolated awareness event but forms part of the Department’s long-standing work to prevent substance abuse and address its impact on individuals, families and communities.
Over the years, the Department has invested in prevention programmes aimed particularly at children and young people. Among these is Ke Moja, a drug prevention programme which equips young people with information and life skills to make informed choices and resist pressure to use substances. The programme has consistently reached more than a million beneficiaries in recent financial years. The Department also supports a broader range of services, including substance abuse prevention and awareness, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, aftercare and reintegration. Through funded services and partnerships with Non-Profit Organisations, communities can access support for substance use disorders and families can receive assistance in dealing with the social consequences of substance abuse.
The Department believes that preventing FASD requires more than speaking to pregnant women. It requires families, partners, young people, communities, health and social service professionals, liquor outlets, schools, traditional and community leaders and other stakeholders to take responsibility for creating an environment that protects unborn children. Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said the Department’s approach is to prevent harm before it happens while ensuring that people and families who need assistance are not left behind. “Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is preventable, and this places a responsibility on all of us to protect unborn children. Our work through programmes such as Ke Moja has shown the importance of reaching young people early, giving them information and helping them make responsible choices. We must continue with this work and take the message into our communities, schools and families.
“We must also remember that behind every child affected by FASD is a family that may need support. As Social Development, our responsibility is not only to raise awareness but also to connect vulnerable families to social workers, treatment and rehabilitation services, early intervention programmes and other forms of support. We want to build communities where prevention is prioritised and where families affected by substance abuse are supported rather than abandoned,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko. The Department’s substance abuse interventions are delivered through a combination of government services and partnerships with funded NPOs. These interventions include prevention programmes, treatment for people experiencing substance use disorders, aftercare and reintegration support. Current departmental plans also provide for continued expansion of prevention and treatment services.
The Department further recognises the importance of early identification and support for children who may experience developmental and learning difficulties. FASD can have lifelong consequences, and families may require assistance to navigate social services, education and other support systems.Gauteng Department Social Development is therefore calling on communities to use FAS Day to have honest conversations about alcohol use during pregnancy and to support women of child-bearing age with accurate information and access to services.
The Department also encourages people struggling with alcohol or other substance use to seek help. Prevention, treatment and recovery remain central to Gauteng’s response to substance abuse, with the Department continuing to work with communities and its social development partners to expand access to these services.
