Thompsonites and people from outlying Northern communities gathered at the Burntwood Community Health Resource Centre (BCHRC) at the Thompson Plaza on Sept. 9 to take part in a walk to raise awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
FASD is a term used to describe a range of effects that can happen to an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, resulting in fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder and alcohol-related birth defects. These effects can include physical, mental, behavioural, and/or learning disabilities and can have lifelong implications. Since alcohol is a potent teratogen - a substance that can damage a developing fetus - there is no known safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy, so pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should not drink any alcohol from conception to birth.
Representatives from the Burntwood Regional Health Authority (BRHA) and Hello Parents were on hand at the Thompson Plaza where booths were set up distributing information about FASD. This information included a flyer about Stop FAS, a home visiting program that provides service to women who are pregnant or who recently gave birth and are using alcohol or drugs. Under the program, mentors work with women for three years to help them access drug and alcohol treatment. Manitoba's Stop FAS sites include the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre FASD Prevention Program; the Nor'West Mentor Program; Grassroots Mentoring FASD Prevention Program; and The Pas Mentor Program.
Chantal McClelland works for the BRHA as the Grassroots Mentoring Program Coordinator. She was in attendance at the Thompson Plaza before the walk on Sept. 9 to help spread the word about FASD. McClelland says that the BRHA is working diligently to help spread awareness of FASD in Northern communities.
"Lots of people are not aware of the impact of alcohol on pregnancy, even though the message has been out there for awhile. We're finding that people in isolated, more remote Northern areas still aren't hearing the message," she says, adding that that is consistent almost anywhere in the industrialized world due to a lack of services and support.
McClelland says that taking part in things like awareness walks is a good way to educate people about FASD.
The Grassroots Mentoring program supports pregnant women with addictions and offers services Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beside Thompson General Hospital in the BRHA building at 867 Thompson Drive South.
