CATHCA joined healthcare professionals and other stakeholders for an informative webinar organised by South Africa’s National Department of Health, focusing on the prevention, early identification and management of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
The session brought together professional expertise and lived experience. Dr Leana Olivier, a leading South African FASD expert and former CEO of the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR), shared insights drawn from extensive research and work with communities affected by FASD. Equally powerful was the contribution of a family raising a child with FASD, which brought the realities behind the research to life.
Discussions explored how healthcare workers can help prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies, recognise possible signs of FASD and strengthen early referral and support. Participants also considered the barriers pregnant women may face when seeking help to stop or reduce alcohol use and the importance of compassionate rather than judgemental support.
The webinar reinforced that FASD requires a whole-community response, bringing together healthcare workers, families, schools, social services and communities.
For CATHCA, one message stood above all others: FASD is 100% preventable, but the damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure is irreversible. Prevention therefore matters enormously — and every informed conversation, supportive intervention and alcohol-free pregnancy can help protect a child’s future.