NorWest Community Health Centres Media Release
For a fourth consecutive year, the NorWest Community Health Centres (NWCHCs) and community partners will again be at all four LCBO locations in Thunder Bay on Friday, September 9, 2016, to raise public awareness about the importance of an alcohol-free pregnancy.
A media event with politicians and dignitaries will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the 1095 Arthur St. West LCBO store to launch this year’s FASD Awareness Campaign.
“There is no safe amount of alcohol when you are pregnant,” says Anita Jean, Manager of Health and Social Programs at the NorWest Community Health Centres.
“By hosting these events at Thunder Bay LCBO stores, we can remind thousands of people of this fact and the need to create supportive environment for the pregnant women in their lives.”
“LCBO is again pleased to host NorWest Community Health Centres at our Thunder Bay stores on Sept. 9 to raise community awareness about the importance of an alcohol-free pregnancy and help prevent FASD,” says Rick Redwood, LCBO Northern Region director.
“LCBO is committed to supporting informed, healthy choices about alcohol and pregnancy by making resources available to the public.
"The LCBO has been helping build awareness of the importance of alcohol-free pregnancy and providing information about FASD since 2004. It’s a key program in our commitment to responsible retailing of beverage alcohol.”
Staff and volunteers from the Children's Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay, Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, Our Kids Count, and the Fetal Alcohol Support and Information Network, and will join the NWCHC and distribute water bottles with an awareness message.
FASD is a preventable permanent disability. At a conservative incidence rate of 0.9 per cent, we can estimate that there are at least 2,000 individuals with FASD in Northwestern Ontario.
People with FASD often have difficulties with learning, memory, attention and problem solving, as well as problems with mental health and social interaction.
These individuals and their families face ongoing hardships in every aspect of life, including mental illness, criminal behaviour, early school dropout, poverty, chronic unemployment, sexual assault, homelessness, violence, alcohol and substance use problems.
For these reasons, it is everybody’s responsibility to help prevent FASD.
For more information on FASD programs and services at the NWCHCs, go to www.norwestchc.org
