ITK/Pauktuutit * Inuit Mark FASD Awareness Day on September 9

Held each year on the ninth day of the ninth month, International FASD Awareness Day is a reminder that during the nine months of pregnancy, a woman should abstain from alcohol. It is a day to remember the lives that have been affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol.

 

The exact prevalence of FASD in Canada is unknown, though it is estimated to be 9.1 per 1,000 live births. Rates are likely much higher in Inuit communities.

 

However, it is not their cultural background that puts Inuit women at risk for having children affected by FASD, rather the social determinants of health, including poverty, untreated mental illness, physical and sexual abuse and social isolation.

 

“I call on the federal government to commit to research the affects of FASD on Inuit families and communities,” said National Inuit Leader Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, “so that we can move ahead with policy and programs aimed at reducing the risk of this crippling disorder.”

 

In the past, because of lack of awareness of FASD and its causes, individuals affected by the disorder have been isolated from their families and communities. But as awareness grows, so does support for healthy pregnancies.

 

“For FASD-affected children to reach their full potential, structured learning environments offering quality practices are of the utmost importance,” said Rhoda Innuksuk, president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada.

 

Culturally sensitive programs for school children and pregnant women have been established in some communities and more communities have access to diagnostic teams. However, children with FASD living in Inuit communities have very limited access to educational and social supports, and long-term intervention strategies are greatly lacking.

 

 

For more information, please contact:

Patricia D’Souza
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
dsouza@itk.ca; 613/292-4482

 

Geri Bailey
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
gbailey@pauktuutit.ca; 613/238-3977