A FORUM to discuss the widely misunderstood and seriously debilitating Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will be held in Nowra on Friday.
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Members of the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Australia, of which Dame Quentin Bryce is patron, will attend the event.
Nowra Family Support Service, together with Drug and Alcohol in Pregnancy and Parenting Service, are presenting the forum at Shoalhaven City Council’s reception room.
Liz Payne, case manager at drug and alcohol in pregnancy and parenting services, hopes the forum will cultivate local understanding of the debilitating health condition.
“The main aim is to raise awareness that alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding don’t go together,” Mrs Payne said.
“There’s not enough research yet to conclude one drink or binge drinking will affect the growing foetus.
“The advice is no alcohol during pregnancy.
“The word is not out among most people.
“I know people who are pregnant and have a couple of wines at night for whatever reason and that’s prompted me to do this.”
Mrs Payne believes the disorder remains largely ignored by health professionals, who haven’t received adequate education to diagnose the disorder.
“Australia has the diagnostic tools however no one is trained to use them,” she said.
“It’s not being recognised as a problem.
“In America and Canada, people are more aware but Australia doesn’t have awareness yet.
“It is being misdiagnosed, with people being prescribed drugs which exacerbate the situation.”
As yet, there are no known effective treatment plans for the life-long health ramifications for infants who are born with the disorder.
“It won’t change, the effects are lasting and there is no cure.
“Long-term, there are a number of presentations.
“They can have a physical or behavioural problem, a lack of co-ordination, act on impulse or it can be forgetfulness and retaining memory.
“A number of these children end up in the correctional system because they cannot learn, understand, retain information and have absolutely no social understandings.”
A yet to be fulfilled pre-election promise from the Baird government is alarming local support services.
The Liberal Party committed $2.3 million towards improving the health of children and adolescents exposed to drug and alcohol misuse across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas of NSW, with a focus on essential preventative training and education for front line health providers.
Pam Arnold, manager for Nowra Family Support Service, said she had been concerned about the issue for some time.
“We have written to a number of politicians expressing our concern over the need for attention for alcohol and pregnancy and the potential negative impacts of drinking while pregnant,” Mrs Arnold said.
“People are reporting they receive conflicting information from health professionals, who are adamant pregnant women should not drink, but when concerns are raised about drinking, some say it is OK to have a drink or two.
“It’s a message that needs to be right across the board and through mainstream communities.
“Since the election, both Gareth Ward and Shelley Hancock are yet to indicate when these changes will be rolled out.
“We don’t just want it to be an election issue, than die away,” Mrs Arnold said.
“They should be committed to their pre-election promises and we want to see them followed through.”
Mrs Arnold hopes Friday’s forum, which is targeting health professionals in the community services sector will lead to a training session later in the year.
“We are hoping a workshop will be held in September, providing information for members of the public.
“It will be seen as a flow-on effect, we want health professionals to give accurate information and raise awareness in the community, because there is a lot of confusing information about this issue.”
For a program or to register, please call Nowra Family Support Service on 4421 5499 or email nowrafs@shoalhaven .net.au.