Released on May 5, 1999
Associate Health Minister Judy Junor today praised a tri-provincepartnership as an effective way to use existing resources for
developing new strategies to prevent and manage Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome. She made the comments when she addressed the opening
session of the first-ever Prairie Province Conference on Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome (FAS) in Calgary.
"FAS affects individuals, families, communities and society," Junor
said. "The Province of Saskatchewan greatly appreciates the
opportunity to join with our neighbours in developing a comprehensive
strategy to prevent and manage FAS."
Saskatchewan Health's 1999-2000 budget includes funding for expanded
FAS and Fetal Alcohol Effect programming by increasing funding for
enhancing physician resources through the College of Medicine. This
initiative is part of a total of $800,000 in new funding to improve
the health of women throughout Saskatchewan.
The Prairie Province Conference on FAS is a major component of a
partnership among the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba,
launched in 1998. The unique partnership is developing tools and
resources for human service providers, encouraging new approaches to
the prevention, intervention and management of FAS and sharing
information.
FAS is a medical condition caused by alcohol consumption during
pregnancy. In Canada, it is recognized as the leading cause of
preventable birth defects and developmental delay in children.
It is estimated that a child with FAS, or with other
alcohol-related birth defects, requires $1.5 million in lifetime
special care and support.
Manitoba will host the prairie province FAS conference in 2000;
Saskatchewan will host the conference in 2001.
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088