Media Release 001

ARA’s SUPPORT TO COMBAT FAS

R2-million contribution announced for training academy and FARR prevention and awareness projects

 
(Cape Town) 11 September, 2008 - The Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA) today announced a contribution of over R2million to the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) at a media briefing in Rondebosch.

The ARA is registered as a non-profit organisation, comprising members that include the major manufacturers of alcohol beverages in South Africa, The ARA’s mission is to reduce alcohol-related harm through combating the misuse and abuse of alcohol beverages and promoting only their responsible use. 

“Our contribution is part of ARA’s ongoing funding to FARR, the oldest and most respected organisation in the field, as well as funding toward the establishment of a training academy, an initiative by FARR, which will assist caregivers and field workers to recognise and understand the problem of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and to implement processes that will encourage awareness creation and education on FAS”, says Adrian Botha, spokesperson for ARA.

The objective of the training academy is to raise awareness of substance abuse and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and to decrease the prevalence thereof . “FARR is the only organisation in this field who will offer formal training on FAS, as well as SAQA accredited packages on awareness, prevention, management and the diagnosis of FASD”, says Professor Denis Viljoen, CEO of FARR.

The endorsement by ARA is timeous as it comes during the same week as International FAS day on 9 September every year. During this week FARR is actively involved in, providing key note addresses at a conference and participating in exhibitions and concerts to create awareness of FAS. 


Professor Viljoen says that South Africa, with the towns De Aar and Upington in particular, have the highest reported FAS prevalence rates in the world (12 % and 8,8%), compared to the next highest prevalence rate of 0,8% in high-risk populations in the USA.

Since the FARR projects in the two Northern Cape towns started, the organisation is confident that its most recent data will show a remarkable decline in prevalence rates in those two communities. 

To run all the FARR awareness, prevention management and research programmes costs on average approximately R1-million per year. “Without the ongoing support and sponsorship of ARA, we will not have been able to maintain our projects and initiatives in communities”, adds Viljoen.

About FARR

FARR was established as an NGO in 1997. It is a very small organisation with approximately 15 staff members. FARR has 3 focus areas;

1. Awareness and prevention
2. Research, diagnosis and management of FASD
3. Training (which will now be strengthened with the establishment of the new Training Academy

FARR is at present the only organisation of its kind in SA with the ability to offer the above-mentioned package, which include the ability to diagnose FASD. Since its establishment, over 150 scientific papers have been published in various medical journals. The organisation works closely with various Universities across the world and regularly partner with scientists in a wide range of fields such as engineering, bio-engineering, etc. to develop innovative initiatives and tools to combat FASD in SA. Partners in our current projects include the Universities of WITS, Stellenbosch, UCT, CPUT, Kent and organisations such as the Medical Research Council, CSIR and others. We receive funding from the following organizations: 

Contact Information

Telephone:  +27 (0) 21  686 2645 /6/7

Fax:  +27 (0) 21  685-7034

Postal address

Electronic mail

CEO : Leana Olivier

 

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Last modified: April 20, 2010.