Alcohol intake during pregnancy should be considered a crime, says a health expert. The Chief Executive of Organisation of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (OFAS), Ms Amanorbea Opoku Boakye said drinking pregnancy causes permanent brain damage and physical defects in unborn babies. According to her, a research conducted by OFAS-Ghana in selected cities revealed that out of 150 women of child-bearing age, 129 drank various brands of alcoholic drinks during pregnancy. “It is a life time brain damage” she said but added that it could be prevented by doing without alcohol. She was speaking at the launch of the first International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day on Wednesday. Ms Boakye cautioned pregnant women and women of child-bearing age to desist from drinking alcohol because of its harmful effects on foetus formation. FAS is a disorder of permanent birth defects that occurs in the offspring of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol crosses the placental barrier and can stunt foetal growth or weight, create distinctive facial stigmata, damage neurons and brain structures, and cause other physical, mental or behavioural problems. The main effect of FAS is permanent central nervous system damage, especially the brain. She expressed worry about the low level of awareness of FAS in the country which had led to an increasing number of babies suffering from defects caused by alcohol. The day, she explained was to create awareness of the dangers alcohol posed to unborn children and the need to discourage women from taking alcohol. “We hope in the near future, we will be able to get the alcoholic distilleries on board with us to discourage alcohol consumption among women by issuing warning on bitters,” Ms Boakye said. Besides she said the the organisation aimed at building care facilities to take care and educate children and adults with mental disabilities. Source: Ghanaian Times