FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 9, 2004
Alaska Observes International FAS Awareness Day Sept. 9
Governor Murkowski issues FAS Awareness Day Proclamation
(Juneau) – Recognizing the critical need to prevent Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome and all birth defects resulting from prenatal
exposure to alcohol, Governor Frank H. Murkowski issued an FAS
Awareness Day proclamation calling for all Alaskans to “promote
public awareness and understanding of the effects of prenatal exposure
to alcohol; to enhance our statewide prevention efforts; to increase
compassion for those individuals so affected; to minimize the lifelong
effects of FASD; and to ensure healthier communities across Alaska
in the future.”
In conjunction with FAS Awareness Day, the Department of Health and Social Services Division of Behavioral Health and the Governor’s Office have developed a series of public service announcements to help educate Alaskans about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Several of the spots feature the Governor and Nancy Murkowski talking about their concerns related to fetal alcohol syndrome. The series begins airing across the state today.
FAS Awareness Day 2004 marks the sixth year for this international awareness event. It arises from parents and caregivers of children, youth and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) coming together to increase awareness about the affects of prenatal exposure to alcohol.
Communities from across Alaska, from Nome to Ketchikan, hosted activities to celebrate International FAS Awareness Day. Alaskans were asked to take time for a “minute of reflection” at 9:09 a.m. (the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month) to remember that during the nine months of pregnancy, a woman should abstain from alcohol. Events include mayoral proclamations in Anchorage and Kenai; ringing of bells at 9:09 a.m. in Anchorage; ringing of bells and a breakfast sponsored by the American Legion in Kenai; and viewing of “A Life Sentence” on the local Kotzebue/Kiana station throughout the day.
FAS is 100 percent preventable, yet it is still the leading cause of mental retardation in Alaska and the United States. If women do not drink alcohol during pregnancy, alcohol-related birth defects will be eliminated. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy — any alcohol consumption during pregnancy has the potential to harm a growing child.
For more information about activities scheduled across the state
or for a copy of the FAS
Awareness Day Resource Kit, contact the
Office of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at (907) 465-3033 in Juneau or
toll-free at 877-393-2287, or visit the website at www.hss.state.ak.us/fas.
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For more information, please contact
Sherry Hill
Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Juneau Office: (907) 465-1618
Anchorage: (907) 269-7800
Cell: (907) 321-2838
Email: sherry_hill@health.state.ak.usJeff Kasper
Project Director
Juneau Office: (907) 465-8194
Email: jeff_kasper@health.state.ak.us
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