The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research was established in 1997 following the findings of a small team of South African medical personnel who studied and investigated possible clinical causes for an alarming incidence of learning disabilities among pre-school children at a Cape Town child centre in 1995.
This study found that these children had high levels of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome 9FAS), and the severity of this problem prompted further research into this disorder. When the foundation was established and the Healthy Mother Baby Programme implemented to educate mothers about the dangers of FAS, the foundation saw a 30% reduction in FAS in De Aar the Northern Cape, and is implementing this programme throughout the province from 2012-2015. The foundation seeks to promote awareness and prevention of FAS, assist with correct diagnosis, management and research of alcohol related condition in young children and train and educate parents and healthcare professionals in this field. The Discovery Fund is supporting the Healthy Mother Baby Programme which will have a positive impact on the health of newborn babies, and enable them to have a healthier future.
FARR (Foundation for Alcohol Related Research) works to reduce the incidence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), in communities where a high prevalence of FAS has been recorded, particularly in the Western Cape and Northern Cape After establishing and implementing the Healthy Mother Healthy Babyprogramme in De Aar for nine years,FARR confirmed a 30% reduction in theprevalence of foetal alcohol syndrome in the region.