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Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Kingston—On Friday, September 9, 2016, the Kingston Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Action Network is hosting its annual FASD Breakfast to recognize International FASD Awareness Day. A number of community partners and stakeholders are registered to take part in the upcoming event to raise awareness regarding the challenges of individuals and families who live with FASD.
The breakfast will feature guest speaker Dr. James Reynolds, professor and researcher in the Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences and the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen's University. The title of his presentation is "Intervention Strategies for FASD: Who, What, When, Where and Why?”.
FASD is not a curable disease, and affects individuals, their families and society. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, FASD is the leading known cause of preventable developmental disability among Canadians, and it is estimated that it affects approximately one percent of the Canadian population. Effects, including alcohol-related birth defects, vary from mild to severe and can include a range of cognitive, physical, behavioural and emotional disabilities.
The first FASD Day was celebrated on September 9, 1999. This date is based on the nine months of pregnancy and was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that a pregnant woman should abstain from drinking alcohol.
Dr. James Reynolds (Queen’s University), Darlene Johnson (Registered Nurse, KFL&A Public Health and Chair of the Kingston FASD Action Network), and Colette Larocque (Registered Nurse at KFL&A Public Health) will be available for interviews at 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 9, 2016 at the breakfast event at Kingston Community Health Centres (263 Weller Avenue, Kingston). Media are invited to attend and are asked to RSVP to Maddie Crothers by Thursday, September 8, 2016.
For more information, contact:
Maddie Crothers
Communications and Public Relations Specialist
KFL&A Public Health
maddie.crothers@kflapublichealth.ca
613-549-1232, ext. 1543
Twitter: @kflaph
Facebook: KFL&A Public Health
ref: PR070916-01
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