September 6, 2007 – Cilaos: Information Day on FAS

For the International Day « Alcohol and pregnancy » which will take place on Sunday, September 9, the association Réunisaf organizes several operations of information on fetal alcohol syndrome.

October 19, 2007 – (SAF)

In the afternoon of Friday 19th of October , a meeting with mothers of children with FAS was organized by the Association Réunisaf.
Many women who consumed alcohol during their pregnancy, sometimes in very large quantities (up to two liters of rum per day) now stopped alcohol through Réunisaf , were able to express their testimonies. They all thanked the association of assistance to stop drinking and expressed their willingness to help in their turn women who drinks informing them of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.
Dr. Denis Lamblin, a pediatrician at the initiative of creating the association, stressed the exemplary testimonies of women who have come out and want to help others. He felt that the method used by Réunisaf consisting of a monitoring network of the various professionals involved could be usefully implemented wherever causing this problem.
He praised the « revolution » as a result of legislation adopted on the initiative of Mrs Anne-Marie Payet, which lays down the obligation to appear on the labels of bottles of liquor a symbol or an information message about the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, he felt that much remained to be done to develop information and prevention. In this regard, it has been argued in particular that the cost of such actions would eventually outweighed by the significant savings that could be achieved in terms of public expenditure, the cost borne by the community of a disabled child FAS can reach several million euros.
Cooperation actions were undertaken by Réunisaf to develop prevention in some French regions (Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Brittany, Lyon …). In addition, contacts were made with foreign countries (Canada, United States, Ireland …).
Other physicians and representatives of health professions present, however, emphasized the lack of training of the medical bodies and thus difficulties of working in a network with the various professionals involved.
On the evening of Friday, October 19, a cocktail by the regional delegation of women’s rights has met many women in positions of responsibility in Reunion Island.

September 13, 2007 – Drinking or , we must choose

Each year, 145 Reunion born with neurological and behavioral disorders due to alcohol ingestion during pregnancy. At the Meeting, the annual incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is three times higher than on the mainland. Reine Marie Payet-Venom, ethno-sociologist, explains to us this phenomenon. For her part, Marie has agreed to testify of her painful history and spousal which led her to drink while she was pregnant and the dramatic impact on her son.

October 20, 2007 – A Day for Women’s Rights

Invited to the meeting by the regional delegation for women’s rights and equality, Senator Gautier himself Chairman of the Delegation for Women’s Rights in the Senate, spent the day yesterday in the local of Réunisaf, in St. Louis.