THE community of Carletonville has pledged against drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Pregnant women tied the knots on one rope as a pledge to never drink while pregnant.
On Sunday, 4 September, the deputy minister of social development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu interacted with the West Rand residents about the harm of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
This was done as part of the 9-9-9 campaign against Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD), which began on Thursday, 1 September in Ladybrand, Free State.
The campaign will see Bogopane-Zulu travel for nine days to nine provinces across the country.
Mzansi has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have the highest reported prevalence of FASD in the world.
The condition often causes mental and physical lifelong problems for unborn babies as a result of the mothers’ alcohol consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The event was also supported by fathers and community leaders.
Bogopane-Zulu said: “The condition is preventable but the decision lies with mothers and fathers.”
She said nurses were overworked to explain and educate patients including pregnant women.
“I plead with pregnant women to stop drinking alcohol. If they happen to be lucky by giving birth to a healthy baby, they shouldn’t continue to breastfeed while drinking alcohol, they are feeding the baby alcohol,” she said.
During the interaction, a pregnant woman shared with the community her journey with alcohol.
“I was a heavy drinker and I continued doing so even when I fell pregnant. I drunk during my earliest stage of pregnancy as I was not aware I was pregnant.
“I only found out after my constant vomiting that I was pregnant. I immediately stopped as it was clear that my unborn baby didn’t want alcohol,” she said.
