Accra Brewery Limited (ABL), in collaboration with the German Development Agency (GIZ), has organised a four-day sensitization programme for pregnant women at the 37 Military Hospital as part of efforts towards promoting responsible alcohol consumption.

Dubbed ‘Alcohol and Pregnancy,’ the programme, which was instituted in September 2014, has seen the training of approximately 1,500 women on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

This has brought to ten, the number of such programmes organised at four different health facilities, namely, Adabraka Polyclinic, Kaneshie Polyclinic, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and 37 Military Hospital.

Speaking at the programme, a Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the Female Outpatient Department, Mrs Edna Afia Kisseh, extended her appreciation to ABL and GIZ for being at the forefront of such an empowerment programme.

She said alcohol consumption during pregnancy could be a challenge to proper foetal development.

Mrs Kisseh said: “alcohol intake during pregnancy may permanently damage the cells of the growing foetus and the baby’s nervous system which could possibly lead to the development of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), with challenges ranging from learning difficulties, social problems to birth defects”.

She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained will go a long way to reduce the medical, social and economic risks that alcohol-consuming pregnant women were exposed to.

Commenting on the rationale for the Programme, Mrs Joyce Ahiadorme, the Corporate Communications Manager at ABL, said “the sensitisation programme forms part of efforts towards creating a sociable world, where our beers are developed, marketed, sold and consumed responsibly with high regard for individual and community wellbeing.’’

Mrs Ahiadorme said expectant mothers were taken through topics such as the effects of alcohol on the mother and the unborn child, as well as its effects on the development of the foetus.

She said the programme was in fulfilment of a pact signed in 2012 by the ABL’s parent company, SABMiller Plc, as a member of the global producers of beer, wine and spirits, with the view to reducing under-age drinking; strengthening and expanding marketing codes of practice; providing consumer information and responsible product innovation whiles enlisting the support of retailers to reduce harmful drinking.

Mrs Ahiadorme reaffirmed ABL’s commitment to abiding by the highest professional standards, an obligation that is imposed on it as a subsidiary of SABMiller, noting that, the competitive landscape of the brewery industry will not impede ABL’s commitment in that regard.

Mrs Mokor Quartey, a beneficiary of the programme, expressed her resolve to adhere to the invaluable lessons learnt from the programme and educate other pregnant women in her community.