Among the highest rates of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) worldwide have been reported by Aboriginal community leaders in the remote Fitzroy Valley. The results are from the landmark 'Lililwan Project', a prevalence study of FAS in an entire population of school aged children, conducted in partnership with The George Institute for Global Health and Sydney University.
Read the media release issued by The George Institute.
The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher, paediatrician and McCusker Clinical Research Fellow Dr James Fitzpatrick was the lead author of the research paper published yesterday in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health that revealed one in eight (or 120 per 1000) children born in 2002 or 2003 in the Fitzroy Valley have FAS.
But in the face of these results, the story of these communities is one of strength and hope. June Oscar, CEO of Marninwarntikura Fitzroy Women's Resource Centre and Maureen Carter, CEO of Nindilingari Cultural Health Services, along with research partner The Kids Research Institute Australia, are leading Australia's most comprehensive FASD prevention strategy to "Make FASD History."
Dr Fitzpatrick commended the community leaders who had the foresight and resolve in 2009 to invite researchers and clinicians to partner with them in undertaking the Lililwan Project, to provide the evidence they needed to advocate for people living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
"While these results are distressing, they are sadly not a surprise and the community has already initiated a comprehensive strategy to prevent alcohol consumption in pregnancy, and to support the children who have already been affected," he said.
"The community has responded to the high rates of FAS with a determination that I have not previously seen in any remote community, tackling these difficult issues head-on."
Dr Fitzpatrick said that through the Marulu FASD Strategy, the community is driving a response that positions the Fitzroy Valley as a model that could set an example for Aboriginal community-owned and community-driven programs around the country.
"What is important now is that we focus on the urgent action that is required to support community-led prevention and management responses to help the community move forward," he said